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.
Animals ; Ankle ; Canes ; Extremities ; Female ; Foot ; Foot Orthoses ; Foot Rot ; Gait ; Hip ; Humans ; Male ; Orthotic Devices ; Paresis ; Stroke ; Walking

An outbreak of footrot has occurred in Debrezeit swine farm that is located 44 km south east of the capital. Among 24 pigs, 75% showed lameness, hot, painful and swollen feet, hemorrhagic bruising of the coronary band, heel erosion, sole ulcers and separation of skin from hoof on hind limbs. Bacteriological examination of the specimen from the affected limbs has shown the involvement of Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and Dichelobacter nodosus. The overt clinical lameness and inability to stand or mount can cause reduced reproductive performance. This preliminary finding thus warrants further epidemiological investigation.
Animals ; Dichelobacter nodosus/isolation&purification ; Disease Outbreaks/*veterinary ; Ethiopia/epidemiology ; Foot Rot/epidemiology/*microbiology ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/epidemiology/microbiology/*veterinary ; Housing, Animal ; Lameness, Animal/epidemiology/*microbiology ; Staphylococcus/isolation&purification ; Streptococcus/isolation&purification ; Swine