ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the application effect of the ankle foot orthoses (AFO)in the rehabilitation of patients with hemiplegia and abnormal gait after stroke Methods Sixty consecutive stroked patients with hemiplegia admitted to Meizhou People′s Hospital,Guagdong Province from January in 2013 to June in 2015 were enrolled retrospectively,and they were divided into either an AFO group or a non-AFO group (n = 30 in each group)according to the odd or even admission numbers. The patients in the non-AFO group were treated with conventional rehabilitation training and those in the AFO group were treated with AFO. Before and after treatment,the Berg balance scale (BBS)was used to assess the balance ability of the patients,10 m maximum walking speed (MWS)was used to assess the walking speed of the patients,and the physiological cost index (PCI)was used to assess the walking efficiency of the patients. Results After treatment,there was significant difference in Brunnstrom grade between the AFO group and the non-AFO group (P < 0. 05). The BBS score and MWS of the patients in the AFO group were 39 ± 5 and 0. 97 ± 0. 38 m/ s respectively after treatment,and they were higher than those before treatment (33 ± 4 and 0. 28 ± 0. 07 m/ s)and those of non-AFO group (36 ± 4 and 0. 54 ± 0. 31 m/ s)after treatment. There were significant differences (all P <0. 05). The PCI was 0. 84 ± 0. 30 in the AFO group after treatment was 0. 84 ± 0. 30. It was lower than that before treatment (1. 32 ± 0. 31)and that of non-AFO after treatment (0. 96 ±0. 33). There was significant difference (all P < 0. 05). Conclusion The application of APO in stroked patients with hemiplegia and abnormal gait has better clinical efficacy. It can significantly im-prove the balance state of patients and improve the walking speed and efficiency.