The role of rigid and hinged polypropylene ankle-foot-orthoses in the management of cerebral palsy: a case study.
Ankle-foot orthoses are commonly used in the treatment of spastic cerebral palsy to hold the foot in a position conductive to a more functional gait. This study, utilizing quantitative biomechanical techniques, evaluates the effects of a rigid ankle-foot orthosis and a hinged ankle-foot orthosis on spastic cerebral palsy gait. The subject was a 4.5 year old female diagnosed as spastic diplegic cerebral palsied shortly after birth. Testing involved collection of kinematic coordinate data employing a WATSMART video system and ground reaction force data using a Kistler force plate. Jensen's (1978) photogrammetric method was used to estimate body segment inertial parameters. The hinged ankle-foot orthosis was found to be more effective than the rigid ankle-foot orthosis. The subject exhibited a more natural ankle motion during the stance phase of gait, greater symmetry of segmental lower extremity motion, and decreased knee moments during stance while wearing a hinged ankle-foot orthosis.
Middleton
E A
EA
Kinesiology Laboratory, School of Physical and Health Education, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Hurley
G R
GR
McIlwain
J S
JS
D000842:Ankle; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D009128:Muscle Spasticity; D009989:Orthotic Devices