Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare the surface cerebral-blood-flow changes for the use and disuse of the ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) in stroke patients with hemiplegia, using a functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) machine. Subjects were 8 outpatients of putaminal hemorrhage with hemiplegia, and a selected similar case of the bleeding part, hemiplegia, sensory disfunction and walking ability. Task 1 was walking with the AFO and Task 2 was walking without the AFO. Each task was performed on a treadmill for 30 seconds for 3 sets. In comparison with walking with the AFO, walking without the AFO significantly increased oxygenated hemoglobin in the next area ; the inside primary motor area, the outside primary motor area of the lesion side, the premotor area of the non-lesion side, the premotor area of the lesion side, and the supplementary motor area of both sides. It was confirmed that the activity of the motor area of the frontal lobe was limited by using the AFO.
