Walking Down Stairs; Walking Up Stairs; Walking Backwards - Ottobock C-Brace Gebrauchsanweisung

8.3.5 Walking Down Stairs

CAUTION
Walking down stairs
This may lead to falling caused by:
► Setting down the foot improperly can influence the damping behaviour of the orthosis (e.g. triggering the
swing phase due to toe load).
→ When walking down stairs, always use the handrail and roll over the edge of the step with the middle of the
shoe.
→ If the audible alarm sounds, stop walking down stairs immediately and check whether stance phase control is
active.
→ Observe the acoustic warning signals (beep signals) of the orthosis.
→ Particular caution is required when carrying children down stairs.
This function must be practiced and executed purposefully. Only by properly stepping down with the
sole can the system switch correctly and permit controlled flexion.
1) Hold the handrail with one hand.
2) Position the leg with the orthosis on the step so that the foot projects halfway over the edge of the
step.
→ This is the only way to assure a secure rollover.
3) Roll the foot over the edge of the step.
→ This flexes the orthosis slowly and evenly.
4) Place the foot of the sound leg onto the next step.
5) Place the foot of the orthosis leg on the next step after that.

8.3.6 Walking Up Stairs

CAUTION
Walking up stairs
This may lead to falling caused by:
► Improperly setting down the foot (extended leg and toe load); the orthosis may switch to the swing phase (no
damping).
→ When walking up stairs, always use the handrail and place the full foot surface of the orthosis down onto the
full surface of the step.
→ Always step up with the sound leg and follow with the orthosis leg. Support from the spring element while
walking up stairs (bouncing with the extended orthosis) is not allowable and must be avoided. This type of
load can cause the orthosis to switch to the swing phase (no damping).
→ Particular caution is required when carrying children up stairs.
The orthosis does not have an active drive system to support this movement pattern. This means walk­
ing up stairs step-over-step is not possible.
Proceed as you would with a rigid orthosis.
1) Hold the handrail with one hand.
2) Place the foot of the sound leg on the first step.
3) Pull up the leg with the orthosis.

8.3.7 Walking Backwards

CAUTION
Risk of falling when walking backwards
When putting down the toe first when walking backwards, the orthosis may switch from high stance phase resist­
ance to swing phase resistance.
► Active flexion in the hip at this point in time can lead to falling.
→ Actively secure the orthosis with the residual musculature while walking backwards.
C-Brace
Handling, Functionality, Risks
Ottobock | 69