Comparative study of anterior support ankle foot orthosis and posterior ankle foot orthosis in foot drop patients

ABSTRACT

Background: Anterior Support Ankle Foot Orthosis (A-AFO) is a fairly recent approach. There is dearth of studies relating to comparison of metabolic efficiency of A-AFO and P-AFO. Objective was to study the efficacy of A-AFO compared to P-AFO in foot drop patients, using gait and metabolic analysis.Methods: It was a cross over study, included foot drop patients who could walk with/ without orthosis. Patients having spasticity more than grade 2 (Modified Ashworth Scale) were excluded. The metabolic parameters measured were volume of Oxygen consumed at Standard Temperature and Pressure in l/min (VO2), Dry in l/min, Rate of Oxygen consumption (MET), Volume of Carbon dioxide produced in litre/min (VCO2). Along with various gait parameters, questionnaire about patient’s preference after 4 weeks was also incorporated.Results: A-AFO was significantly better than P-AFO in terms of VO2 and VCO2 (p value = 0.02 and 0.009 respectively) as well as in terms of subjective preference.Conclusions: A-AFO is comparable to P-AFO in terms of energy efficiency, gait parameters and subjective preference, hence should also be prescribed.