Hesperian Health Guides
Prevention of Contractures and Deformities in Persons with Paralysis
HealthWiki > Disabled Village Children > Chapter 26: Leprosy: Hansenâs Disease > Prevention of Contractures and Deformities in Persons with Paralysis
Exercises to maintain full range of motion are covered in Chapter 42 (see especially "Guidelines for Doing Stretching and Range-of-Motion Exercises").
- Exercises to prevent fixed clawing of the hands can be done by gently straightening the fingers like this:
and like this:
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Open your fingers as much as you can without help. Then use your other hand to open them the rest of the way. Close fingers and repeat. |
- A good exercise to prevent prevent âtiptoeâ contractures with âfoot dropâ is to stretch the heel cords by leaning forward against a wall or by squatting with heels on the ground.
Footwear for persons without feeling in their feet
NO!
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The best footwear has:
a well-fitted upper part that does not rub and has plenty of toe room (or leaves toes open).
For the outer sole, hard, resistant rubber or plastic sole should be used.
a tough under-sole so thorns, nails, and sharp rocks do not injure foot.
Footwear should be acceptable (not look too strange or unusual) so that the person will use it.
Possible ways to get footwear
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An insole that is thick may work if the foot is already short. | |
soft insole |
- Make (or have a local shoemaker make) special footwear. For the inner sole, you can use a soft, sponge sandal or buy âmicrocellâ rubber, which is soft but firm. For the outer sole, hard, resistant rubber or plastic sole should be used.
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a bar here or a foot support here may help take pressure off the ball of the foot and prevent new sores. |
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- For persons with a drop foot, a brace or lift can help prevent sores and injuries.
You can get a brace or support at a rehabilitation workshop, or make a specially-fitted, well-padded plastic brace (see Chapter 58). | |
Or make a simple device to hold the foot up. |
This page was updated:04 Apr 2024