Article

This study measures standing stability of four individuals with paraplegia using knee-ankle-foot orthoses (KAFOs) with a center-of force monitoring platform as compared with similar data from 10 neurologically healthy subjects. We found that postural stability in paraplegic individuals using KAFOs compared favorably with the control group under conditions of eyes open and closed with stance. Unlocking the ankles of the KAFOs resulted in an increase in swap path and mean frequency. Functional muscular stimulation of the quadriceps muscles resulted in standing stability slightly less than with KAFOs. Although KAFOs may not be the ideal assistive device for various reasons, postural stability appears reasonable, and other proposed orthoses must be comparable in order to be considered as an alternative.

Langue : ANGLAIS

Identifiant basis : 1986000800