An ankle-foot orthosis with inhibitor bar: effect on hemiplegic gait.
OBJECTIVE
To test whether an inhibitor bar attached to an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) improves walking ability in hemiplegic stroke patients with tonic toe flexion reflex (TTFR).


METHODS
Before-after trial.


METHODS
Rehabilitation hospital in Japan.


METHODS
Nine patients with TTFR were assigned to the TTFR group, and 8 patients without TTFR were assigned to the control group.


METHODS
Inhibitor bar attached to an AFO.


METHODS
Gait was analyzed by measuring the number of steps and the time required to walk 10m at a maximal walking speed.


RESULTS
In the TTFR group, use of an inhibitor bar for 2 weeks significantly increased the maximal walking speed, stride length, and cadence by 13.8% (P=.0045), 8.0% (P=.0398), and 6.1% (P=.0056), respectively. There were no significant changes in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
An inhibitor bar improved walking ability of hemiplegic patients with TTFR, and its use with an AFO is recommended.
Iwata
Manabu
M
Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki-shi, Japan. miwata@cc.hirosaki-u.ac.jp
Kondo
Izumi
I
Sato
Yoshihiro
Y
Satoh
Kei
K
Soma
Masashi
M
Tsushima
Eiki
E
D000842:Ankle / Q000503:physiopathology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000503:physiopathology; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D020959:Polyethylene / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology
D020959:Polyethylene