Symmetry of stance phase time and lower extremity joint angles in able-bodied subjects in whom motion of one ankle joint was restricted by an ankle-foot orthosis

Abstract

During gait training using an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO), the acquisition of an able-bodied gait becomes theoretically impossible because of limited ankle motion. We hypothesized that the goal of gait training for patients using an AFO is to enable them to acquire the gait of an able-bodied individual who is fitted with an AFO rather than a normal gait. The purpose of this study was to investigate how much symmetry is maintained by comparing normal gait with AFO-fitted gait in able-bodied subjects. Ten young males participated in this study. Stance phase time and lower extremity joint angles were measured using a three-dimensional motion analysis system. The symmetry of stance phase was slightly changed by fitting an AFO ; furthermore, no statistical difference in joint motion was noted, except at the ankle joint of the AFO-fitted side. The results show that even a patient who needs to use an AFO has the possibility to acquire an almost normal gait pattern on the above-mentioned symmetry in the best case. However, because a change in the normal joint’s motion compensates for the fitted joint’s restricted motion, it is possible that instruction/training focusing on this compensation would be more effective.