Evaluation of the Effect of Walking Exercise Using an Ankle Foot Orthosis with Electric Assistance for Chronic Hemiplegic Stroke Patients

Abstract

[Purpose] This was a preliminary study to clarify the effect of walking exercise using an ankle foot orthosis (AFO) with electric assistance that assists ankle plantar flexion and dorsiflexion movements according to the walking cycle. [Participants and Methods] Twelve chronic hemiplegic stroke patients performed walking exercise using an AFO with electric assistance. The comfortable walking speed, Timed Up and Go test, and walking video analysis (step length, single leg support period time, walking rate, and leg joint angles) were evaluated before and after the intervention, and 2 and 4 weeks after the intervention, and compared. [Results] The comfortable walking speed was significantly different 4 weeks after the intervention, and the hip flexion angle of the terminal stance (TSt) on the paralyzed side was significantly different at 2 and 4 weeks after the intervention. [Conclusion] The results suggest that walking exercise using an AFO with electric assistance may affect the change in hip flexion angle on the paralyzed side of TSt, and further studies on how to use it are required.