The effect of an ankle-foot orthosis with dorsiflexion resistance on the stance phase of the paralyzed side in hemiplegic gait : Study using a single case design

Abstract

We used a double upright ankle foot orthosis with an adjustable ankle joint that can change braking force. We examined this orthosis with a hemiplegic patient and focused on the difference in distance-time-parameters and activity of muscles by adding a dorsiflexional braking function to the lower limb of the paralyzed side during the stance phase. As a result, the support to the paralyzed limb rose and the distance-time-parameters improved because the plantar flexion muscles of the ankle and the extension muscles of the knee has been assisted. From the present experiment, the addition of a dorsiflexional braking function to the ankle is effective in the case of sudden knee flexion caused by lower muscle tonus or uneasiness of weighting on an affected limb in the stance phase by increasing the flexion joint moment of the knee.