Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Inje University, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea | [b] Department of Physical Therapy, College of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Inje University, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Won-gyu Yoo, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Inje University, 607 Obang-dong, Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do, 621-749, Korea. Tel.: +82 55 320 3994; Fax: +82 55 329 1678; E-mail: won7y@inje.ac.kr
Abstract: This study investigated how to improve the walking patterns in stroke patients by using the Dual AFO, which was devised as an alternative AFO consisting of two thin pierced plastic pieces for the lower leg and foot. Fifteen individuals with hemiplegia were recruited. Participants were seven males and eight females. Gait parameters were measured with the GAITRite system to analyze the spatial and temporal parameters of walking by stroke patients.The Dual AFO significantly improved the step time of the non-affected foot compared with barefoot walking. There was no significance difference in the affected swing time between the two conditions, and participants with the Dual AFO had a significantly shorter non-affected swing time. There was a significant difference in the affected single support time between walking with and without the Dual AFO. Additionally, the velocity was increased significantly in subjects with the Dual AFO compared with barefoot. Consequently, the Dual AFO might enhance stability during the stance phase on the affected side and mobility during the swing phase on the non-affected side to promote better walking in stroke patients.
Keywords: Ankle-foot orthosis, modified AFO, assistive device, walking, foot drop
