Effects of an ankle foot orthosis that can recreate dorsiflexion of the metatarsophalangeal joint on gait in a child with spastic hemiplegia cerebral palsy

Abstract

A new ankle foot orthosis (AFO) that can recreate dorsiflexion of the metatarsophalangeal joint was produced experimentally using soft carbon fiber reinforced plastics. This case study aimed to assess the effects of this newly developed AFO on gait in a child with spastic hemiplegia cerebral palsy. By using a motion analysis system that was synchronized with a force plate, 3 gait tasks performed by the subject while walking barefoot or using the newly produced AFO or the conventional AFO were recorded and examined. Compared with the conventional AFO, use of the newly developed AFO significantly increased the angle of ankle dorsiflexion during the gait cycle. Moreover, the vertical ground reaction force at loading response was significantly decreased (p<0.05) while that at terminal stance was significantly increased (p<0.01). These findings demonstrate that the newly developed AFO may help to perform gait more efficiently.