Article

Orthoses and walking aids are used frequently in stroke rehabilitation to facilitate ambulation. The aim was to
describe the regularity of orthosis use and the reasons for disuse in stroke
after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. The study included 64 (43 men, 21
women) subacute stroke patients who had been discharged from our clinic in the
last 6 months. Demographic and clinical findings, proposed orthoses and walking
aids, frequency of usage for the proposed orthoses, reasons for disuse, and the
ambulation levels were recorded. A total of 54 (84.4%) patients had an ankle-foot
orthosis and 10 (15.6%) patients had a knee-ankle-foot orthosis. The orthosis
frequency of use was every day in 38 (59.4%) patients and one to seven times a
week in seven (10.9%) patients, whereas 19 (29.7%) did not use them. The reasons
for orthosis disuse were finding them unnecessary in seven (27%) patients, usage
difficulties in six (23%) patients, pressure sensation in five (19.2%) patients,
the belief that they did not make life easier in five (19.2%) patients, lack of a
suitable environment in one (3.8%) patient, orthosis wear in one (3.8%) patient,
and systemic disease in one (3.8%) patient. Age, sex, residence, the disease
duration, and recommended orthosis duration (how long the prescribed orthosis was
used), recommended orthosis, range of motion limitation in the lower extremities,
presence of spasticity, type of orthosis, and the ambulation level were not
statistically significantly associated with the frequency of orthosis use
(P>0.05). The only significant clinical factor for the frequency of orthosis use
was the lower extremity Brunnstrom neurophysiological recovery stage (P<0.008).
Orthosis use had been discontinued by 29% of the patients. The most common
reasons reported for discontinuing orthosis use were that the patients found it
unnecessary, usage difficulty, pressure sensation, not making life easier, lack
of a suitable environment, and orthosis wear. The only significant clinical
factor for the frequency of orthosis use was the lower extremity Brunnstrom
neurophysiological recovery stage.

Langue : ANGLAIS