Design of a stiffness-adjustable ankle-foot orthosis and its effect on ankle joint kinematics in patients with stroke. 2011

Toshiki Kobayashi, and Aaron K L Leung, and Yasushi Akazawa, and Stephen W Hutchins
Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China. tkobayashi@orthocareinnovations.com

Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are commonly prescribed to improve gait. The stiffness of an AFO is central for successful prescription; however, the recommended level of stiffness is currently based on the experience of clinicians. Therefore, the aim of this study was to design an experimental AFO (EAFO) whose stiffness was adjustable using commercially available oil-damper joints, and to demonstrate its potential capability in investigating the effects of altering AFO stiffness on gait. The influence of the EAFO stiffness on ankle joint kinematics in sagittal plane was evaluated in 10 patients with stroke by altering the stiffness of its oil-damper- type orthotic ankle joints using the four levels pre-set and defined by the manufacturer in dorsi- and plantarflexion directions independently. The mean peak plantarflexion angle was reduced by 105%, showing a change from 8.18 (3.14) degrees of plantarflexion to 0.38 (4.17) degrees of dorsiflexion, whilst the mean peak dorsiflexion angle was reduced by 44%, showing a change from 11.46 (5.57) degrees of dorsiflexion to 6.47 (5.23) degrees of dorsiflexion by altering the EAFO stiffness. The EAFO would therefore serve as a convenient tool when investigating the influence of AFO stiffness on gait in both clinical and research settings.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009989 Orthotic Devices Apparatus used to support, align, or augment the functioning of parts of the body. Orthoses,Orthosis,Parapodium,Device, Orthotic,Devices, Orthotic,Orthose,Orthotic Device,Parapodiums
D004867 Equipment Design Methods and patterns of fabricating machines and related hardware. Design, Equipment,Device Design,Medical Device Design,Design, Medical Device,Designs, Medical Device,Device Design, Medical,Device Designs, Medical,Medical Device Designs,Design, Device,Designs, Device,Designs, Equipment,Device Designs,Equipment Designs
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000071939 Stroke Rehabilitation Restoration of functions to the maximum degree possible in a person or persons suffering from a stroke. Rehabilitation, Stroke
D000843 Ankle Joint The joint that is formed by the inferior articular and malleolar articular surfaces of the TIBIA; the malleolar articular surface of the FIBULA; and the medial malleolar, lateral malleolar, and superior surfaces of the TALUS. Ankle Syndesmosis,Articulatio talocruralis,Distal Tibiofibular Joint,Inferior Tibiofibular Joint,Talocrural Joint,Tibiofibular Ankle Syndesmosis,Tibiofibular Syndesmosis,Ankle Joints,Ankle Syndesmoses,Ankle Syndesmosis, Tibiofibular,Distal Tibiofibular Joints,Inferior Tibiofibular Joints,Joint, Ankle,Joints, Ankle,Syndesmosis, Ankle,Talocrural Joints,Tibiofibular Ankle Syndesmoses,Tibiofibular Joint, Distal,Tibiofibular Syndesmoses
D001696 Biomechanical Phenomena The properties, processes, and behavior of biological systems under the action of mechanical forces. Biomechanics,Kinematics,Biomechanic Phenomena,Mechanobiological Phenomena,Biomechanic,Biomechanic Phenomenas,Phenomena, Biomechanic,Phenomena, Biomechanical,Phenomena, Mechanobiological,Phenomenas, Biomechanic
D016059 Range of Motion, Articular The distance and direction to which a bone joint can be extended. Range of motion is a function of the condition of the joints, muscles, and connective tissues involved. Joint flexibility can be improved through appropriate MUSCLE STRETCHING EXERCISES. Passive Range of Motion,Joint Flexibility,Joint Range of Motion,Range of Motion,Flexibility, Joint
D020233 Gait Disorders, Neurologic Gait abnormalities that are a manifestation of nervous system dysfunction. These conditions may be caused by a wide variety of disorders which affect motor control, sensory feedback, and muscle strength including: CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES; PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES; NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASES; or MUSCULAR DISEASES. Ambulation Disorders, Neurologic,Charcot Gait,Charcot's Gait,Duck Gait,Gait Disorder, Sensorimotor,Gait Dysfunction, Neurologic,Gait, Athetotic,Gait, Broadened,Gait, Drop Foot,Gait, Festinating,Gait, Frontal,Gait, Hemiplegic,Gait, Hysterical,Gait, Reeling,Gait, Rigid,Gait, Scissors,Gait, Shuffling,Gait, Spastic,Gait, Stumbling,Gait, Unsteady,Gait, Widebased,Locomotion Disorders, Neurologic,Marche a Petit Pas,Neurologic Ambulation Disorders,Neurologic Locomotion Disorders,Rapid Fatigue of Gait,Sensorimotor Gait Disorder,Ambulation Disorder, Neurologic,Athetotic Gait,Broadened Gait,Charcot Gaits,Charcots Gait,Drop Foot Gait,Festinating Gait,Foot Gait, Drop,Frontal Gait,Gait Disorder, Neurologic,Gait Disorders, Sensorimotor,Gait Dysfunctions, Neurologic,Gait, Charcot,Gait, Charcot's,Gait, Duck,Gaits, Charcot,Hemiplegic Gait,Hysterical Gait,Locomotion Disorder, Neurologic,Neurologic Ambulation Disorder,Neurologic Gait Disorder,Neurologic Gait Disorders,Neurologic Gait Dysfunction,Neurologic Gait Dysfunctions,Neurologic Locomotion Disorder,Reeling Gait,Rigid Gait,Scissors Gait,Sensorimotor Gait Disorders,Shuffling Gait,Shuffling Gaits,Spastic Gait,Stumbling Gait,Unsteady Gait,Widebased Gait

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