A composite material 10 for forming custom fitted orthopedic and other products. The composite material is easily formable when heated to temperatures of about two hundred degrees Fahrenheit for a time of at least six to eight minutes and then is rigid at temperatures of about one hundred thirty degrees. The composite material can be sewn and formed in complex shapes when initially heated to about two hundred degrees. Closure attachments 60 can be secured to the composite material as needed on site rather than at the manufacturing facility. The composite material can be custom fitted to a patient in situ.

A composite material 10 for forming custom fitted orthopedic and other products. The composite material is easily formable when heated to temperatures of about two hundred degrees Fahrenheit for a time of at least six to eight minutes and then is rigid at temperatures of about one hundred thirty degrees. The composite material can be sewn and formed in complex shapes when initially heated to about two hundred degrees. Closure attachments 60 can be secured to the composite material as needed on site rather than at the manufacturing facility. The composite material can be custom fitted to a patient in situ.

A shoulder immobilizer (20) includes a semi-rigid or rigid orthosis, in the form of an arm support (22), which supports the upper arm, elbow, forearm and wrist of a patient. A bolster (24) is positioned between the patient and the arm support (22). A body strap (26) extends around the patient and attaches to the arm support (22) and/or the bolster (24), holding the arm support and bolster in position against the body of the patient. In embodiments, the shoulder immobilizer (20) may utilize a shoulder strap (28), but such a shoulder strap is not necessary for shoulder immobilization of the patient.

A shoulder immobilizer (20) includes a semi-rigid or rigid orthosis, in the form of an arm support (22), which supports the upper arm, elbow, forearm and wrist of a patient. A bolster (24) is positioned between the patient and the arm support (22). A body strap (26) extends around the patient and attaches to the arm support (22) and/or the bolster (24), holding the arm support and bolster in position against the body of the patient. In embodiments, the shoulder immobilizer (20) may utilize a shoulder strap (28), but such a shoulder strap is not necessary for shoulder immobilization of the patient.

Variable stiffness devices and methods of their use are provided. In some embodiments, a variable stiffness device comprises an inner member defining a compartment for receiving an actuating fluid; an outer member disposed around the inner member; and a granular medium disposed between the inner member and the outer member; wherein the inner member is being moveable in a radial direction from a relaxed state to an expanded state by introducing the actuating fluid into the compartment of the inner member to compress the granular medium against the outer member to increase the stiffness of the device.

An orthotic apparatus includes a leg securing member adapted for attachment to a wearer's lower leg. A resilient strut that flexes in the anterior to posterior direction has an upper end connected to the leg securing member. A heel member is connected to the strut lower end at the heel member. A foot member is connected to the heel member. The foot member has a heel end at the heel member and a toe end spaced horizontally from the heel end. The foot member also has a substantially rigid lower foot plate extending between the heel end and toe end and a substantially rigid upper foot plate extending between the heel end and toe end above and generally parallel to the lower foot plate. In certain examples the orthotic apparatus is integrated with a shoe.

A shoulder rehabilitation brace that operates to aid patients in rehabilitating their shoulder joint in an anatomically correct manner with the trapezius is locked down in order to prevent substantial upward shoulder shrug movements. Embodiments of the shoulder rehabilitation brace may include a shoulder strap and a thigh strap, with the shoulder strap using the thigh strap as an anchor while encircling a user's torso and engaging the user's shoulder to cause force to be exerted on the shoulder that prevents shoulder/scapular hiking and keeps the shoulder blade in retracted position in a manner that helps prevent potential shoulder impingement scenarios. In this regard, the shoulder rehabilitation brace is able to emulate the same hand on trapezius area function that therapists manually apply to patient rehabbing a shoulder condition in-clinic.

A shoulder rehabilitation brace that operates to aid patients in rehabilitating their shoulder joint in an anatomically correct manner with the trapezius is locked down in order to prevent substantial upward shoulder shrug movements. Embodiments of the shoulder rehabilitation brace may include a shoulder strap and a thigh strap, with the shoulder strap using the thigh strap as an anchor while encircling a user's torso and engaging the user's shoulder to cause force to be exerted on the shoulder that prevents shoulder/scapular hiking and keeps the shoulder blade in retracted position in a manner that helps prevent potential shoulder impingement scenarios. In this regard, the shoulder rehabilitation brace is able to emulate the same hand on trapezius area function that therapists manually apply to patient rehabbing a shoulder condition in-clinic.

An orthotic device is configured to limit expansion of a subject's chest following surgery or for other ailments. The orthotic device includes an elongated band, a pulley assembly, and a locking mechanism. The elongated band wraps, during use, around a chest of a subject comprising a first end couplable to a first base and a second end couplable to a second base. An elongated member, of the pulley assembly, may couple a first routing member to a second routing member such that by applying, during use, a pulling force to the elongated member a distance between the first and the second routing members decreases. The routing members may be removably coupled to the respective bases. The pulley assembly includes a locking mechanism which inhibits movement of the elongated member relative to at least one of the routing members such that the distance is inhibited from increasing.

An orthotic device is configured to limit expansion of a subject's chest following surgery or for other ailments. The orthotic device includes an elongated band, a pulley assembly, and a locking mechanism. The elongated band wraps, during use, around a chest of a subject comprising a first end couplable to a first base and a second end couplable to a second base. An elongated member, of the pulley assembly, may couple a first routing member to a second routing member such that by applying, during use, a pulling force to the elongated member a distance between the first and the second routing members decreases. The routing members may be removably coupled to the respective bases. The pulley assembly includes a locking mechanism which inhibits movement of the elongated member relative to at least one of the routing members such that the distance is inhibited from increasing.