Effects of an ankle-foot orthosis on spatiotemporal parameters and energy cost of hemiparetic gait.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of an ankle-foot orthosis on the gait and energy parameters of walking in chronic hemiparetic subjects.


METHODS
With/without group comparison.


METHODS
Consecutive patients recruited from the gait analysis laboratory of our rehabilitation department.


METHODS
A group of nine chronic hemiparetic patients, with the same gait pattern alteration, were evaluated during walking at free speed with and without the use of an orthosis.


METHODS
Gait analysis and study of energy cost.


CONCLUSIONS
The orthosis significantly improved self-selected speed (15.47 versus 21.39 m/min), stride cycle (2.33 versus 2.08 s), stance (1.83 versus 1.48 s) and double support (1.55 versus 1.16 s) and reduced energy cost (0.76 versus 0.49 ml O2/kg/m) of walking without affecting cardiorespiratory response. Moreover, a significant correlation was found between the improvement of double support and the reduction of energy cost.
Franceschini
Marco
M
Department of Geriatrics and Rehabilitation, Hospital of Parma, Italy. franceschini@ao.pr.it
Massucci
Maurizio
M
Ferrari
Luciana
L
Agosti
Maurizio
M
Paroli
Chiara
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000842:Ankle / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology*; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D010291:Paresis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking