title: Influence of ankle-foot orthoses on kinematic segmental covariation among stroke patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of ankle-foot orthosis on lower limbs kinematic segmental covariation (KSC) among stroke patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten chronic hemiparetic spastic stroke patients presenting with a lack of ankle dorsiflexion were assessed with instrumented gait analysis under three conditions: wearing a shoe, with a prefabricated ankle-foot orthosis (AFO), and with a dynamic AFO. Kinematic parameters were recorded and computed KSC was calculated according to Borghese's methodology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Contrary to the prefabricated AFO, the dynamic AFO improved KSC of the paretic side. We observed a high correlation between the external mechanical work and the affected side's KSC. In the unaffected side, KSC was globally unchanged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In stroke patients, wearing a dynamic AFO improves KSC of the paretic lower limb only.
authors: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, université catholique de Louvain, cliniques universitaires de Mont-Godinne, 1, rue Thérasse, 5530 Yvoir, Belgium. corinne.bleyenheuft@uclouvain.be
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Bleyenheuft
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Deltombe
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Detrembleur
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D061826:Foot Orthoses; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010291:Paresis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012775:Shoes; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D055815:Young Adult