The Effect of an Ankle‐Foot Orthosis on Temporal Spatial Parameters and Asymmetry of Gait in Hemiparetic Patients

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) on certain walking parameters in patients with hemiplegia. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Gait and Motion Analysis Laboratory at MossRehab. Participants: A total of 1150 records of patients with stroke who were referred to the Gait and Motion Analysis Laboratory between 2000 and 2008 for an evaluation of their walking. Of this group, 217 patients wore braces at the time of the gait evaluation and were selected for a more in-depth review. Among these patients, 42 records were selected because of the existence of available data from temporal spatial analysis meeting 2 conditions: walking with bare feet and walking with an AFO during the same visit. Methods and Main Outcome Measurements: Under both conditions, temporal spatial parameters of gait, including self-selected velocity, cadence, stance time, swing time, double support time, step length, and width of the base of support, were assessed by the use of an electronic gait mat (Gait Mat II, EQ Inc.) originally designed in the Moss Rehabilitation Engineering Center. Results: Walking velocity, cadence, percent stance, double support, and step length significantly increased, whereas affected side percent swing and width of the base of support decreased when patients used an AFO. Symmetries of stance time (P ϭ .0001) and step length (P ϭ .002) improved as well when patients used an AFO compared with walking barefoot. Conclusion: In this sample of patients with stroke, the use of an AFO improved the symmetry of several of the temporal spatial parameters of gait, and consequently, the gait pattern of these hemiparetic patients was enhanced.

Spatiotemporal, Kinematic, and Kinetic Effects of a Peroneal Nerve Stimulator Versus an Ankle Foot Orthosis in Hemiparetic Gait

“…6–9 The lack of difference in double support time suggests that neither device significant affects dynamic balance. The lack of difference in cadence between device conditions, while not consistent with prior gait analyses by Esquenazi et al 5 and Ring et al 7 who reported improvement in cadence with an AFO and tPNS device, respectively, may similarly be due to the relatively short distances ambulated.…”

Effect of Ankle-foot Orthosis on Gait Velocity and Cadence of Stroke Patients: A Systematic Review

“…In a retrospective study by Esquinazi et al31 ) in a three-dimensional gait lab, Moss Rehabilitation Engineering Center, in the spatiotemporal aspects of gait of 42 patients were evaluated and a significant improvement in both the speed and cadence of gait of the patients using AFO orthoses: (0.31 m/s) × speed with AFO (0.41 m/s), p<0.001; and cadence without AFO (63.3 steps/min) × cadence with AFO (68.8 steps/min), p<0.001.…”

Biomechanics of uphill walking using custom ankle-foot orthoses of three different stiffnesses

“…greater hip involvement) [5]. An AFO can help compensate for plantarflexor weakness and improve walking economy by both stabilizing the ankle joint [6] and utilizing elastic storage and return from AFO deformation during stance [7,8].…”