ISO 8551:2003

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 8551
First edition
2003-08-15

Prosthetics and orthotics — Functional
deficiencies — Description of the person
to be treated with an orthosis, clinical
objectives of treatment, and functional
requirements of the orthosis
Prothèses et orthèses — Malformations des membres — Description de
la condition de l'utilisateur d'orthèse, objectifs cliniques, et exigences
fonctionnelles et biomécaniques de l'orthèse




Reference number
ISO 8551:2003(E)
©
ISO 2003

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ISO 8551:2003(E)
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ISO 8551:2003(E)
Contents Page
Foreword. iv
Introduction . v
1 Scope. 1
2 Normative references. 1
3 Terms and definitions. 1
4 Description of the person to be treated with an orthosis . 2
4.1 General. 2
4.2 Personal factors. 2
4.3 Clinical condition to be treated with an orthosis. 2
4.4 Other clinical conditions. 3
4.5 Motivation and perceived needs . 3
4.6 Functional abilities. 3
5 Clinical objectives of treatment. 4
6 Functional requirements of the orthosis. 5
Annex A (informative) Biomechanical effects of orthoses. 7

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ISO 8551:2003(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 8551 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 168, Prosthetics and orthotics.
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ISO 8551:2003(E)
Introduction
The orthotic treatment of a person depends not only on the causes and underlying conditions for which the
orthosis is being prescribed, but also on other clinical conditions and attributes of the person. The various
members of the clinical teams in different countries often develop their own nomenclature to record this
information. Hence there is a need for an international system to allow comparisons of clinical practice.
The system described in this International Standard is designed to meet the needs of the members of the
clinic team to assess the person and to present and evaluate treatment. Such a system will also allow this
information to be recorded in a way which can easily be incorporated into reports and used for analysis. It will
also be of value to epidemiologists and government health officials.
ISO 8551 defines the minimum information to be described.
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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 8551:2003(E)

Prosthetics and orthotics — Functional deficiencies —
Description of the person to be treated with an orthosis, clinical
objectives of treatment, and functional requirements of the
orthosis
1 Scope
This International Standard establishes a method of describing the person to be treated with an orthosis, the
clinical objectives of treatment and the functional requirements of the orthosis.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 8549-1, Prosthetics and orthotics — Vocabulary — Part 1: General terms for external limb prostheses
and external orthoses
ISO 8549-3, Prosthetics and orthotics — Vocabulary — Part 3: Terms relating to external orthoses
ICD-10:1992, International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, World Health
Organization, Geneva
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 8549-1 and ISO 8549-3 and the
following apply.
3.1
alignment of a skeletal segment
spatial relationship between the ends of the segment
NOTE The alignment of a skeletal segment is determined by its integrity and/or shape.
3.2
alignment of a joint
spatial relationship between the skeletal segments which comprise the joint
NOTE The alignment of a joint is determined by the integrity and shape of the skeletal segments of which it is
comprised, and the action of associated muscular and ligamentous/capsular tissues. These factors also govern the type
and range of motion at the joint.
3.3
alignment of the trunk (or any part thereof)
spatial relationship between the relevant two end vertebrae
NOTE The alignment of the trunk is determined by the alignment of the intervening skeletal segments and joints.
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ISO 8551:2003(E)
3.4
instability
tendency of a skeletal segment or joint, whose integrity is impaired, to change to an abnormal alignment when
subjected to muscle forces and/or external loading
NOTE A skeletal segment or joint exhibiting such instability is said to be unstable.
3.5
deformity
abnormal alignment of a skeletal segment or joint
3.6
preventable deformity
deformity for which the application of an external force system will prevent an unstable skeletal segment or
joint moving
...