Hesperian Health Guides
How to Correct Contractures Using Adjustable Braces
HealthWiki > Disabled Village Children > Chapter 59: Correcting Joint Contractures > How to Correct Contractures Using Adjustable Braces
Orthopedic suppliers in some countries sell knee and ankle joints that can be locked in different positions. But these are very expensive. However, a skilled village craftsperson can put together something similar:
| Knee and ankle joints can be adjusted every few days to gradually straighten the joints. | Space the holes on the 2 pieces differently so that lining them up allows a range of small adjustments. |
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| leather or plastic cuffs | adjustment screw or pin |
A much simpler low-cost model can be made of round or flat metal bar.
| Round metal rod (re-bar) | |
 rod about 80 mm (¼ inch) thick (depends on size of child)
Bend rod just a little less than knee will straighten.
plastic heatmolded to fit leg, or simply bent with heat (or use leather)
knee pad with extra width above knee
tabs bent back with heat to grip bar |
These metal bar braces are used in a way similar to a standard above-knee brace. Every 2 or 3 days, bend the bar a little straighter at the knee. The brace can be made cheaply, and can be removed for walking and exercise, and to check for sores. As the leg becomes straighter, any of these braces can be used as a regular walking brace with a clog. |
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| Flat metal bar | |
| Use flat steel bar that is strong enough to hold leg firmly. | Twist the middle part of the bar in a vise so that it can be bent tor easy adjustments. |
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Two designs for adjustable braces to correct ankle contractures
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| wood wedges of different widths | notch to grip rod | |
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wood stop
Fit different wedges between stop and rod to change adjustment.
Add a wide, well-padded ankle strap. | |
| 2. |  |
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wide strap
soft pad |
| Bend the rod tips like this. | Bolt them tightly between 2 layers of thin wood. | Bend rods up a little more every few days. | |
Note: This design is complicated to make, but can be adjusted while the brace is on the child. | |||
An adjustable wood brace for knee and ankle contractures
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Using “wing nuts” makes it easier to remove the bolts for clamping the position of the cross pieces. | |
| The positions of these 2 cross pieces can be changed to adjust the angle of the knee and foot. |  |
Use thin pieces of hard wood about 2 cm. wide and 6 to 8 mm. thick. | |
WARNING!
This page was updated:19 Mar 2026