Comparison of a dynamic and a hinged ankle-foot orthosis by gait analysis in patients with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.
We studied the effect of a dynamic ankle-foot orthosis (d-AFO) on gait in 12 hemiplegic cerebral palsy patients. Sagittal plane kinematic and kinetic data of walking with the d-AFO were compared with walking barefoot, walking in a hinged ankle-foot orthosis (h-AFO) with a plantarflexion block and normal values. All patients had excessive plantarflexion and initial toe contact when walking barefoot. The d-AFO did not improve gait significantly whereas the h-AFO did. The benefits of controlling plantarflexion by a longer lever arm fror the h-AFO to the proximal calf included a heel-toe gait pattern, reduced plantarflexion, increased step and stride length and reduced power absorption.
Romkes
Jacqueline
J
Laboratory for Gait Analysis, Children's University Hospital (UKBB), Burgfelderstrasse 101, CH-4055, Basel, Switzerland. j_romkes@hotmail.com
Brunner
Reinald
R
D000842:Ankle; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005528:Foot; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D014741:Video Recording