Hard Splints are used to hold the foot in which degrees of dorsiflexion?

Hard Splints are used to hold the foot in which degrees of dorsiflexion?

• A. 0-2 degrees
• B. 5-6 degrees
• C. 7-8 degrees
• D. 3-4 degrees

Answer: (D)

Hard splints are designed to hold the ankle in a small amount of dorsiflexion so the foot stays in a functional position during gait. The typical target is about three to four degrees of dorsiflexion. This modest bend helps counteract plantarflexor tone and prevents equinus without making the foot overly dorsiflexed, which could slow or destabilize walking and hinder push-off. Setting the ankle at more than this range—five to eight degrees—can overcorrect, potentially causing knee hyperextension or gait inefficiency, while too little dorsiflexion (near zero to two degrees) may fail to prevent plantarflexion and toe drag.

Hard splints are designed to hold the ankle in a small amount of dorsiflexion so the foot stays in a functional position during gait. The typical target is about three to four degrees of dorsiflexion. This modest bend helps counteract plantarflexor tone and prevents equinus without making the foot overly dorsiflexed, which could slow or destabilize walking and hinder push-off. Setting the ankle at more than this range—five to eight degrees—can overcorrect, potentially causing knee hyperextension or gait inefficiency, while too little dorsiflexion (near zero to two degrees) may fail to prevent plantarflexion and toe drag.