Article

We evaluated the effect of ankle-foot orthosis (AFO; articulated, plantar flexion
stopped) use on balance and mobility in hemiparetic stroke patients in this
study. Fifty-one hemiplegic patients who had completed the rehabilitation
programme were included in the study. Subjects were assessed during the Ashburn
walking and stair test, the time Up & Go test, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and
the mobility subscale of the stroke rehabilitation assessment of movement
(STREAM) in the presence and absence of AFO. The patients were asked about their
evaluations of AFO in terms of its desirability/undesirability.
All the subjects
showed improvements in gait speed, balance and mobility with AFO use. However,
there was no statistically significant difference between the durations of stair
climbing with or without AFO; 45.1%% of the subjects indicated that their gait
speed increased; 35.3%% indicated that they step on more confidently and 60.8%%
indicated that they consider AFO unaesthetic. It was determined that the use of
an AFO resulted in improvements in both balance and ambulation activities of
hemiparetic patients.

Langue : ANGLAIS