Clinical application of the computer-aided movable and measurable ankle-foot orthosis / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The traditional ankle-foot orthosis focuses on the protection, correction, stability, and compensation;therefore, it is important to explore a new rehabilitation method for ankle joint dysfunction.OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of computer-aided movable and measurable ankle-foot orthosis that designed by the Department of Rehabilitation in Longgang Central Hospital of Shenzhen on postoperative dysfunction after ankle fracture.METHODS: Fifty-two patients with ankle fractures at 3 weeks after internal fixation were selected and equivalently randomized into two groups. Both groups received conventional oral medication and rehabilitation therapy. In addition,the patients in control group were given joint mobilization treatment, while those in experimental group were given computer-aided movable and measurable of ankle-foot orthosis, 20 minutes daily, 6 days weekly for consecutive 4 weeks. The efficacy was evaluated by muscle strength, active range of motion, Kofoed ankle score and visual analogue scale on computer at baseline, 7, 14, and 28 days after training.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) There were no significant differences in baseline data and ankle function scores between two groups before training (P > 0.05), and all above indicators were significantly improved in both two groups at 4 weeks after training (P 0.05). To conclude, the unique ankle-foot orthosis can reduce postoperative pain, enhance muscle strength and improve ankle mobility after ankle fracture.