Which statement reflects a thoracic level consideration for orthosis?

• A. Cannot place in a stander if stuck in frog leg position
• B. Stander is always appropriate for progression
• C. Stander should be used only with knee immobilizers
• D. Orthosis does not affect standing tolerance

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is that choosing an orthosis for standing at a thoracic level must rely on lower-limb alignment and joint range, not just trunk control. A stander requires the hips and knees to be in neutral, properly aligned positions so the pelvis and spine can sit upright and bearing is balanced. If the hips are held in a frog-leg position (hip flexed, abducted, and externally rotated) due to contractures, a stander won’t fit properly and can push the joints into unsafe alignment, cause pressure points, or hinder standing tolerance. In this case, you can’t safely place the person in a stander until those hip issues are addressed or the device is adjusted for that deformity. The other statements aren’t as accurate because progression with a stander isn’t automatic, knee immobilizers aren’t universally required, and orthoses do influence standing tolerance by changing alignment, weight distribution, and muscle effort.