title: Effects of an ankle-foot orthosis with oil damper on muscle activity in adults after stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An ankle-foot orthosis with an oil damper (AFO-OD) was developed to resist plantarflexion motion, thereby improving hemiplegic gait performance. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of AFO-OD on muscle activity during the gait cycle in individuals affected by stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electromyography (EMG) was used to assess gait at a self-selected speed while wearing an AFO-OD or an AFO with a plantarflexion stop (AFO-PS) worn on the affected side in 11 stroke survivors and on the right side in 11 age-matched healthy adults. EMG signals were obtained from the tibialis anterior (TA), gastrocnemius (GAS), and soleus (SOL) muscles. In addition, the ankle joint angle under both braces and the plantarflexion resistance torque (PFRT) under AFO-OD were monitored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peak PFRT under AFO-OD was observed during the loading response phase (LRP) in both groups. AFO-OD promoted adequate plantarflexion during LRP in the stroke group, whereas AFO-PS did not. Compared with the AFO-PS, the AFO-OD significantly reduced GAS EMG amplitude during LRP in the stroke group, which was significantly correlated with peak PFRT during LRP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AFO-OD assisted the "heel rocker function" and reduced GAS muscle EMG amplitude during LRP.
authors.affiliation: Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Kyoto, Japan. oohata@hs.med.kyoto-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohata
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasui
authors.forename: Tadao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuboyama
authors.forename: Noriaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ichihashi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000843:Ankle Joint; D004576:Electromyography; D004867:Equipment Design; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*