ABSTRACT
Objectives: Ankle Foot Orthoses [AFOs] are widely utilized to improve walking ability in hemiplegic patients. The present sludy aimed to evaluate the effect of Rocker bar Ankle Foot Orthosis [RAFO] on functional mobility in posl-stroke hemiplegic patients
Methods: Fifteen hemiplegic patients [men and women] who were at leasl 6-months posl-stroke and able to walk without an assisUve device for at lea
The patients were examined for three conditions: shoes only, with SAFO and with RAFO. Their functional mobility was evaluated through 10-meter walk test and Timed Up and Go [TUG] tesl In addition, paired t-tesl; was used to analyze the obtained data
Results: When the patients used RAFO, their gait speed significantly increased [P<0.05]. Moreover, the time of performing TUG tesl experienced a significant decrease using RAFO compared with utilizing shoe only [P<0.05]
Discussion: RAFO led to a significant improvement in functional mobility in hemiplegic patients posl stroke. This may be due to the positive effect of rocker modification on improving push off and transferring weight during the Glance phase of gait
ABSTRACT
Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a modified Floor Reaction Ankle Foot Orthosis [FRAFO] design on gait performance in boy with cerebral palsy
Materials and Methods: In this study, one boy with diplegic cerebral palsy [CP] wore a modified FRAFO bilaterally for six weeks. Immediate effectiveness of the orthosis on improving gait and also following six weeks of gradual orthosis use were recorded. Primary outcome measures were walking speed, cadence and stride length, plus hip, knee and ankle joints range of motion that recorded by VICON motion analysis system
Results: Cadence, stride length and walking speed were all increased when the Boy with CP wore the modified FRAFO. The boy demonstrated a reduction in ankle ROM when using the modified FRAFO. The mean knee joint ROM was increased from 36.8 +/- 13.72 degrees when walking with an orthosis at baseline to 43.0 +/- 1.10 degrees when walking with an orthosis after six weeks of use. Boy with the modified FRAFO also had decreased hip flexion angle at initial contact and an extension shift during stance phase following 6 weeks of orthosis use compared to when initially donning it
Conclusion: A modified FRAFO can improve gait parameters in children with cerebral palsy
ABSTRACT
Objectives: Ankle Foot Orthoses [AFOs] are widely utilized to improve walking ability in hemiplegic patients. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Rocker bar Ankle Foot Orthosis [RAFO] on functional mobility in post-stroke hemiplegic patients.
Methods: Fifteen hemiplegic patients [men and women] who were at least 6-months post-stroke and able to walk without assistive device for at least 10 meters voluntarily participated in this study. The patients were examined with and without RAFO. Their functional mobility was evaluated through 10-meter walk test and Timed Up and Go [TUG] test. Also, paired t-test was used to analyze obtained data.
Results: When patients used RAFO, their gait speed significantly increased [p<0.05]. Also, the time of performing TUG test experienced a significant decrease using RAFO compared with utilizing shoe only [p<0.05].
Discussion: RAFO led to a significant improvement in functional mobility in hemiplegic patient's secondary to stroke. It seems that, it has been due to the positive effect of rocker modification on improving push off and transferring weight during stance phase of gait.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a modified Floor Reaction Ankle Foot Orthosis [FRAFO] design on gait performance in children with cerebral palsy.
Methods: Eight children with cerebral palsy wore a modified FRAFO bilaterally for six weeks. Motion analysis was used to assess the immediate effectiveness of the orthosis on improving gait and also following six weeks of gradual orthosis use. Primary outcome measures were walking speed, cadence and stride length, plus hip, knee and ankle joint ranges of motion. A paired T test was used to compare primary outcome measures.
Results: Cadence, stride length and walking speed were all significantly increased when the children wore the modified FRAFO [P = <0.001for speed and stride length and p=0.005 for cadence]. The children demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in ankle ROM when using the modified FRAFO. The mean knee joint ROM was increased from 36.5+/-13.32 degrees when walking with an orthosis at baseline to 43.5 +/- 1.19 degrees when walking with an orthosis after six weeks of use. Children with the modified FRAFO also had decreased hip flexion angle at initial contact and an extension shift during stance phase following 6 weeks of orthosis use compared to when initially donning it.
Discussion: Children with cerebral palsy can benefit from an improvement in gait parameters when walking with a modified FRAFO.
ABSTRACT
Plantar fasciitis is due to irritation and inflammation of the plantar fascia, which may occur in patients aged 30-60 years old. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of new modified foot arthosis on improving the quality of daily life, sport and recreational activities in patients with plantar fasciitis. This clinical trial study was done at orthotics and prosthetics clinics in Tehran during Aug 2007 to May 2008. 15 patients with plantar fasciitis including 4 male and 11 female with ranging age 25-45 yrs old [35 +/- 5.02] were selected by non probability sampling. Patients used new modified foot orthosis. FAOS questionnaire was used for evaluating the activity daily life and sport and recreational activities. 2 stages included: once before intervention and the second stage after 4 weeks after intervention. Data analysis has been done with paired T-Test, Smironov-Kolomogrov by SPSS-13. Quality of daily life was 44.30 +/- 10.16 before interventional treatment and 61.08 +/- 16.26 after intervention and difference between two stages was not statistically significant. The results for sport and recreational activity were 26.50 +/- 10.09 before interventional treatment and 52.50 +/- 12.23 after intervention and difference between two stages was statistically significant [P<0.05]. This study showed that the new modified foot orthosis was no effective on improving of activity daily life but, was effective in sport and recreational activities in patients with plantar fasciitis