The influence of a rocker sole adaptation on gait parameters in spinal cord injury patients ambulating with the advanced reciprocating gait orthosis - a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
When walking with an advanced reciprocating gait orthosis (ARGO), ankle and knee joint motion is restricted which causes an un-cosmetic gait compared to normal walking. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a rocker modification for use with the ARGO in order to improve hip joint kinematics, walking speed, step length and cadence.


METHODS
Spinal cord injury patients (n = 4) with thoracic-level injury participated in this study, and walked with a standard ARGO and one which was also adapted with a rocker sole in a randomized order.


RESULTS
Mean walking speed and step length were both significantly increased by volunteer SCI subjects when ambulating using the ARGO adapted with a rocker sole compared to the standard ARGO. Cadence was not significantly affected, but swing time was significantly reduced and mean hip flexion and extension were both significantly increased when walking with the adapted ARGO.


CONCLUSIONS
The rocker sole modification produced an increase in walking speed and step length, and improved sagittal plane hip joint kinematics when ambulating using an ARGO. Using this type of shoe modification has the potential to improve gait parameters in SCI patients compared to the standard unmodified version. Implications for Rehabilitation The ARGO adapted with a rocker sole could be used by spinal cord injury patients. A major advantage of the walking with the ARGO adapted with a rocker sole was increased of walking speed and step length, and improvement of the sagittal plane hip joint kinematics. The findings of this study would appear to provide useful data for rehabilitation teams who utilize orthoses to walk and rehabilitate SCI subjects. Using this type of shoe modification has the potential to improve gait parameters in SCI patients compared to the standard un-modified version.
Orthotics and Prosthetics Department, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Science , Tehran , Islamic Republic of Iran .
Mokhtar
M
Arazpour
Stephen William
SW
Hutchins
Monireh
M
Ahmadi Bani
Sarah
S
Curran
Mahmood
M
Bahramizadeh
Hooshang
H
Saberi
Mohammad Ali
MA
Mardani
D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008297:Male; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016138:Walking
Advanced reciprocating gait orthosis; dorsiflexion assisted ankle–foot orthosis; rocker sole; spinal cord injury; walking