What is the influence of an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) on the spatio-temporal gait parameters and functional balance in stroke patients?

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the influence of an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) on the spatio-temporal gait parameters and functional balance in stroke patients. Design: Observational study. Subjects and setting: Fifteen chronic stroke patients attending a rehabilitation outpatient service participated. Based on the score of the Timed Up and Go test (TUG), patients were subdivided into two groups. When patients completed the test in less than 20 seconds, they were placed in 'the without assistive device group' (without AD-group), and when they completed the test in more than 20 seconds, they were placed in "the with assistive device group" (AD-group). All the patients in the AD-group used a walking cane during the tests on day two. Intervention: Patients were tested while wearing standardized sport shoes in three different conditions: wearing no AFO, a standard prefabricated AFO (Maramed) or an individualized AFO (Y-tech). Outcome measures: Spatio-temporal gait parameters were obtained by walking on an instrumented walkway (GAITRite®) at both usual and fastest speed. The balance was assessed by three functional balance tests: the Timed Up and Go (TUG), the Step Test (ST) and the Four Square Step Test (FSST). Results: ANOVA's revealed significant results for some of the spatio-temporal parameters when walking at usual and fastest speed. Interactions were found for some of the spatio-temporal parameters in both speeds. Only significant effects were found in the AD group and in the total group. No effects were found