Affiliations: [a] Division of Physical Therapy, Hyogo Rehabilitation
Center Hospital at Nishi-Harima, Hyogo, Japan | [b] Department of Internal Medicine, Hyogo Rehabilitation
Center Hospital, Hyogo, Japan | [c] Division of Physical Therapy, Hokkaido Bunkyo
University, Eniwa City, Japan | [d] Faculty of Health Science, Kobe University School of
Medicine, Kobe City, Japan
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Noriaki Maeda, RPT, Division of
Physical Therapy, Hyogo Rehabilitation Center Hospital at Nishi-Harima, 1-7-1
kouto shingu-Cho, Tatsuno City, Hyogo, 679-5156, Japan. Tel.: +81 791 58 1050;
Fax: +81 791 58 1070; E-mail: noriakipt31@ybb.ne.jp
Abstract: In this study, we performed 6-minutes walking tests using a portable
gas analyzer in patients with post-stroke hemiparesis, and examined the effects
of ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) application on the walking ability and energy
expenditure during walking. The subjects were 18 patients with post-stroke
hemiparesis, who were admitted to the rehabilitation care unit of our
rehabilitation center, and could walk. We performed 6-min walking tests with
and without AFO application in these patients, and examined the walking
distance and velocity, oxygen consumption (VO_{2}), and
heart rate (HR) during walking. The oxygen consumption per meter
(VO_{2}m^{-1}) and physiological cost
index (PCI) were determined as the efficiency of kinetic energy. The difference in the VO_{2} during walking was
not significant between application and non-application of the AFO, but the
differences in the walking distance and velocity and the
VO_{2}m^{-1} and PCI were significant.
It was suggested that improvement of the walking ability and
reduction of energy expenditure during walking were possible in motion-impaired
patients with post-stroke hemiparesis by AFO application.
Keywords: Stroke, walking, ankle-foot orthosis, oxygen consumption, energy expenditure
