PCI and walking speed for 3min-walk were measured in 12 normal age-matched male subjects and 12 post-stroke male patients under four conditions: with or without AFO and at preferred or maximum speed.
Compared to the normal subjects, PCIs of the patients were significantly high in all conditions. With AFO, PCI decreased and walking speed increased in the patients, whereas PCIs increased but walking speed did not change in the normal subjects.
The slower the walking speed, the larger the decrease of PCI with AFO in the patients was. The effect of AFO for improvement of walking capacity in the patients was small in those with nearly normal walking speed. PCI was more sensitive than walking speed for assessing the effect of AFO in the stroke patients.

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This survey analyses new major lower-limb amputees caused from vascular diseases, who had received the physically disabled person's certificate, in peoples of Okayama prefecture operated during ten years from 1979 to 1988.
178 subjects, resulted in 51.1% of all lower-limb amputees during the same period, were composed of arteriosclerotics 69.7%, diabetic gangrenes 22.5% and Burger's diseases 7.9%.
The average amputation-rate for 100, 000 inhabitants was annually 1.1 in overall populations and 6.0 over 65 years old. At three years postoperatively, the rate of mortality was 43.7% in overall and 51.1% in arteriosclerotics. The above-knee amputation in arteriosclerotics was carried out in 71.8% of patients.
With an investigation of 110 amputees passed over four years postoperatively, the incidence of secondary amputations was 19.1%, and the dual disability of hemiplegic and amputation was found in 14.5%.
Among the arteriosclerotic amputees, about half had been provided neither prosthetic limb nor wheelchair through the Social Welfare Service Law. The percentage of above-knee arteriosclerotic amputees provided for the prosthetic limb through that law, was only 10% or so.
The results of this study may serve as a base for determination planning the rehabilitation for ischemic amputees.

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[in Japanese]

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