title: Evaluation of effect of ankle-foot orthosis use on strength restoration of paretic dorsiflexors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether a difference exists in restoration of strength between patients with a recent paresis of the dorsiflexors of the ankle using an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) and patients without an AFO.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients from regional hospitals, tested in a rehabilitation research center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine patients with a recent (6wk-1yr) peripheral paresis, alternately assigned to a group using an AFO or a control group. There was no significant difference in duration of the paresis and in torque at entering the study (T0) between the 2 groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  The use of an ankle-foot orthosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Isometric torque production of ankle dorsiflexors, expressed as ratio of paretic and healthy side, in 2 measurement sessions, over a period of 6 weeks (T0-T6) with the ankle in 0 degrees and 30 degrees plantarflexion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups had significant restoration of strength +/- standard deviation between T0 and T6 in 30 degrees flexion: non-AFO group 17% +/- 15%, AFO group 9% +/- 12%. No significant difference existed between the 2 groups (30 degrees p = .56). No significant shift in strength ratio 0 degrees :30 degrees occurred (AFO group p = .82).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of an orthosis does not influence restoration of strength in patients with a recent peripheral paresis of the ankle dorsiflexors.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Rehabilitation Research, Hoensbroek, the Netherlands. marion.geboers@irv.nl
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Geboers
authors.forename: Y J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Janssen-Potten
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Seelen
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Spaans
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Drost
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000842:Ankle; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010543:Peroneal Nerve; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric