Article

An ankle-foot orthosis using an oil damper is designed to enable
natural movement of the ankle joint. Wearing an ankle-foot orthosis using an oil
damper has been demonstrated to assist the first rocker in stroke patients, but
its effect on their gait when not wearing it is unclear.
OBJECTIVES: To determine
the effect of use of ankle-foot orthosis using an oil damper on the gait of
stroke patients with hemiparesis when not wearing the ankle-foot orthosis. STUDY DESIGN: Crossover study. METHODS: The gait of eight stroke patients in the
chronic phase when not wearing an ankle-foot orthosis was measured, using a
three-dimensional motion analysis system, before using the ankle-foot orthosis
using an oil damper and then without and with using the ankle-foot orthosis using
an oil damper after 3 weeks of use. Differences in gait were compared between the
three measurement conditions. RESULTS: Use of ankle-foot orthosis using an oil
damper significantly decreased preswing time and significantly increased the
positive ankle joint power in stance when not wearing the ankle-foot orthosis
using an oil damper. CONCLUSIONS: These changes indicate the promising
therapeutic effects of ankle-foot orthosis using an oil damper use and suggest
the ankle-foot orthosis using an oil damper's potential as a therapeutic device.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE: After 3 weeks of use of an ankle-foot orthosis using an oil
damper, which assists the first rocker, the gait of stroke patients in the
chronic phase when not wearing the ankle-foot orthosis using an oil damper was
improved. Preswing time was significantly decreased and positive ankle joint
power was significantly increased. The ankle-foot orthosis using an oil damper,
which assists the first rocker function with natural movement of the ankle joint
during gait, has the potential to improve the gait of stroke patients after
immediate-term use.
CI - (c) The International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics 2014.

Langue : ANGLAIS