Document Type : Original Articles
Authors
1 Department of Orthotics and Prosthetics, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
2 Department of Physical Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
3 Department of Orthotics and Prosthetics, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
4 Rehabilitation Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Abstract
Background: Chronic stroke patients face impairment due to ankle dorsiflexor weakness that can influence their ankle kinematics and gait. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of a pneumonic ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) with those of a posterior leaf spring (PLS) AFO on the spatiotemporal parameters of gait and ankle range of motion in hemiplegic stroke patients.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 5 participants with chronic stroke were tested during one session under three conditions: without orthosis, with pneumatic AFO, and with PLS-AFO. Spatiotemporal gait parameters and ankle joint range of motion were measured with a motion analysis system.
Results: The results indicated that the pneumatic orthosis can improve gait speed in comparison with no orthotics (p = 0.04). No significant difference was seen regarding other evaluated spatiotemporal parameters and ankle range of motion under different orthotic conditions.
Conclusion: The comparison of the immediate effects of the pneumatic ankle-foot orthosis and those of the posterior leaf spring ankle-foot orthosis showed that in comparison with no orthosis or with PLS-AFO, the pneumatic orthosis could improve gait speed, but had no effect on cadence, step length, or ankle range of motion in chronic stroke patients.
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