Orthosis or orthotic: Which is it when?

摘要

I have enjoyed the article by Doucet and Mettler, Effects of a dynamic progressive orthotic intervention for chronic hemiplegia: A case series. The authors investigated a topic which is in need of beginning evidence: the effect of dynamic low load long duration stretch on spastic upper limbs. My question to the editor however, is related to the terminology used throughout this article for the orthotic device. Why was this orthosis referred to as an orthotic throughout the article? We have been strongly advised to change our terminology for our custom fitted orthoses which formally were referred to as splints. In my investigation of why the terminology of orthotic was allowed to be printed after our strong advisement to change our terminology, I searched the definition given to the authors in our illustrious journal. The definition given in the instructions to the authors is actually somewhat confusing.