title: Effect of Anterior Ankle-Foot Orthoses on Weight Shift in Persons With Stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effects of an anterior ankle-foot orthosis (AAFO) on the speed and accuracy of weight shift in persons with stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross sectional, repeated measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neurologic rehabilitation department.
  
  
  METHODS
  People with stroke (N=24) who were unable to voluntarily dorsiflex the foot against gravity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The weight-shift performance was measured with and without the AAFO.
  
  
  METHODS
  The speed and accuracy of sustained and cyclic bilateral weight shift were measured using the computerized dynamic posturography. The movement velocity, maximum excursion, and directional control of sustained weight shift were calculated using the limits of stability test. The on-axis velocity gap, directional control, and stability of cyclic bilateral weight shift were calculated using the rhythmic weight shift test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For sustained weight shift, the maximum excursion of weight shift to the affected side was greater with the AAFO (P=.002). For cyclic bilateral weight shift, the on-axis velocity gap in the mediolateral (ML) direction was smaller at a fast speed (P=.004). The stability of the ML and anteroposterior weight shift was higher at slow (P=.002 and P<.001, respectively) and fast (P=.001 and P<.001, respectively) speeds when wearing the AAFO.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings demonstrated that persons with stroke who wear an AAFO might improve the excursion of the sustained weight shift to the affected side and the speed and stability of cyclic bilateral weight shift in the ML direction.
authors.affiliation: School of Occupational Therapy, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan; Occupational Therapy Room, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chiung-Ling
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Occupational Therapy, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Fen-Fen
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Occupational Therapy, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan; Occupational Therapy Room, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chung-Hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: School of Occupational Therapy, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shu-Zon
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.affiliation: Room of Occupational Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation, Cishan Hospital, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsin-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: School of Occupational Therapy, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung City, Taiwan; Occupational Therapy Room, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung City, Taiwan. Electronic address: gordon@csmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Kwok-Tak
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Yeung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000842:Ankle / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000503:physiopathology*; D061826:Foot Orthoses; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Foot orthoses; Postural balance; Rehabilitation; Stroke