Effects on Foot External Rotation of the Modified Ankle-Foot Orthosis on Post-Stroke Hemiparetic Gait.
10.5535/arm.2013.37.4.516
- Author:
Ha Jeong KIM
1
;
Min Ho CHUN
;
Hong Min KIM
;
Bo Ryun KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Sangju Seongmo Hospital, Sangju, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Ankle-foot orthosis;
Foot rotation;
Gait;
Stroke
- MeSH:
Animals;
Ankle;
Canes;
Extremities;
Female;
Foot;
Foot Orthoses;
Foot Rot;
Gait;
Hip;
Humans;
Male;
Orthotic Devices;
Paresis;
Stroke;
Walking
- From:Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
2013;37(4):516-522
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of heel-opened ankle foot orthosis (HOAFO) on hemiparetic gait after stroke, especially on external foot rotation, and to compare the effects of HOAFO with conventional plastic-AFO (pAFO) and barefoot during gait. METHODS: This cross-over observational study involved 15 hemiparetic patients with external rotation of the affected foot. All subjects were able to walk independently, regardless of their usual use of a single cane, and had a less than fair-grade in ankle dorsiflexion power. Each patient was asked to walk in three conditions with randomized sequences: 1) barefoot, 2) with a pAFO, and 3) with an HOAFO. Their gait patterns were analyzed using a motion analysis system. RESULTS: Fifteen patients consisted of nine males and six females. On gait analysis, hip and foot external rotation were significantly greater in pAFO (-3.35degrees and -23.68degrees) than in barefoot and HOAFO conditions (p<0.05). Wearing an HOAFO resulted in significant decreases in hip (0.78degrees, p=0.04) and foot (-17.99degrees, p<0.01) external rotation compared with pAFO; although there was no significant difference between HOAFO and barefoot walking. Walking speed and percentage of single limb support were significantly greater for HOAFO than in barefoot walking. CONCLUSION: HOAFO was superior to pAFO in reducing hip and foot external rotation during the stance phase in patients with post-stroke hemiparesis. HOAFO may, therefore, be useful in patients with excessive external rotation of the foot during conventional pAFO.
