Immediate synergistic effect of a trunk orthosis with joints providing resistive force and an ankle–foot orthosis on hemiplegic gait

Abstract

PurposeThe synergistic effects of a trunk orthosis and an ankle–foot orthosis (AFO) in stroke patients with a hemiplegic gait are unclear. We previously developed a trunk orthosis with joints providing resistive force (TORF) to modify malalignment of the trunk and pelvis and confirmed its positive effects in stroke patients during level walking without an AFO. The aim of the present study was to determine if this trunk orthosis and an AFO have synergistic effects during level walking in community-dwelling patients with chronic stroke.MethodsTwenty-eight community-dwelling stroke patients performed level walking at a self-selected speed with an AFO and again while wearing a TORF (TORF group) or a corset (control group). Spatiotemporal, kinematic, and kinetic data were recorded using a three-dimensional motion analysis system.ResultsWhen compared with the control group, the TORF group showed significant increases in walking speed, number of steps on the paretic leg per minute, and peak ankle plantar flexion moment during the single stance phase.ConclusionThe TORF increased the ankle joint plantar flexion moment at the end of the single stance phase during level walking in stroke patients, leading to an increase in their gait speed because of the modified trunk and pelvis alignment.

[Retracted] Application Experience and Patient Feedback Analysis of 3D Printed AFO with Different Materials: A Random Crossover Study

“…The commonly used materials for 3D printers include plastics, metals, resins, nylon, hydrogels, ceramics, and composite. Currently, the most commonly used technologies include stereo lithography appearance (SLA), fused deposition modeling (FDM), selective laser sintering/melting (SLS/SLM), laminated object manufacturing (LOM), and three-dimensional jet printing (3DP) [ 5 ]. This study is aimed at comparing the actual printing effects of the three commonly used printing materials for orthotics and exploring their application experience and feedback in patients with poststroke ankle dorsiflexion disorders [ 6 ].…”

A Review on the Control of the Mechanical Properties of Ankle Foot Orthosis for Gait Assistance

“…The effects of the provision of an AFO on rehabilitation was measured on an AFO with a bending stiffness control [57] in the short-term, long-term, and even in terms of the immediate effect (during the provision of the AFO) [16,19]. The immediate effects of an AFO with gait control, such as damping stiffness, assistive torque, and motion control, on the user have been reported, such as a higher walking speed, longer stride length, and so on [72], but without focusing on the short-term or long-term utilization [74,96]. Another work discussed the long-term effect of assistance by an AFO by measuring the user kinetics and the emotional improvement of the patient [60].…”