title: An ankle-foot orthosis with inhibitor bar: effect on hemiplegic gait.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Sciences, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki-shi, Japan. miwata@cc.hirosaki-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: Izumi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soma
authors.forename: Eiki
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tsushima
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D020959:Polyethylene