Article

Foot-drop is a common motor impairment of chronic stroke patients,
which may be addressed with an ankle foot orthosis.
Although there is reasonable
evidence of effectiveness for ankle foot orthoses, user compliance is sometimes
poor. This study investigated a new alternative to the ankle foot orthosis, the dorsiflex sock.
METHODS: The dorsiflex sock was evaluated
using an A-B single case experimental design. Two community-dwelling, chronic
stroke patients with foot-drop participated in this study. Measures were selected
to span the International Classification of Function, Disability and Health
domains and user views on the dorsiflex sock were also collected. FINDINGS AND
OUTCOMES: The dorsiflex sock was not effective in improving participants' walking
symmetry, speed or energy expenditure. Participant 1 showed improvement in the
distance he could walk in 6 min when using the dorsiflex sock, but this was in
keeping with a general improvement trend over the course of this study. However,
both participants viewed the dorsiflex sock positively and reported a positive
effect on their walking. CONCLUSION: Despite positive user perceptions, the study
found no clear evidence that dorsiflex sock is effective in improving foot-drop.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although the dorsiflex sock offers an attractive alternative
to an ankle foot orthosis, the case studies found no clear evidence of its
efficacy. Clinicians should view this device with caution until further research
becomes available.
CI - (c) The International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics 2013.

Langue : ANGLAIS