INTRODUCTION: During walking, people with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease may compensate for distal weakness by using proximal muscles. We investigated the effect of different AFOs on distal leg control and proximal compensatory actions. METHODS: Fourteen people with CMT were tested while wearing 3 types of ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) bilaterally compared with shoes alone. Walking was assessed using three-dimensional gait analysis. Stiffness of the splints was measured by applying controlled 5-degree ankle stretches using a motor. RESULTS: The results showed that each AFO significantly stiffened the ankle and increased ankle dorsiflexion at foot clearance compared with shoes alone. At push off, peak ankle power generation was reduced, but only with 1 type of AFO. A significant decrease in hip flexion amplitude during the swing phase was observed with all 3 AFOs. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that AFOs reduce foot drop and remove the need for some proximal compensatory action.
INTRODUCTION: During walking, people with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease may compensate for distal weakness by using proximal muscles. We investigated the effect of different AFOs on distal leg control and proximal compensatory actions. METHODS: Fourteen people with CMT were tested while wearing 3 types of ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) bilaterally compared with shoes alone. Walking was assessed using three-dimensional gait analysis. Stiffness of the splints was measured by applying controlled 5-degree ankle stretches using a motor. RESULTS: The results showed that each AFO significantly stiffened the ankle and increased ankle dorsiflexion at foot clearance compared with shoes alone. At push off, peak ankle power generation was reduced, but only with 1 type of AFO. A significant decrease in hip flexion amplitude during the swing phase was observed with all 3 AFOs. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that AFOs reduce foot drop and remove the need for some proximal compensatory action.
Authors: Jorik Nonnekes; Cheriel Hofstad; Annemieke de Greef-Rotteveel; Heleen van der Wielen; Janke H van Gelder; Christian Plaats; Viola Altmann; Fabian Krause; Noël Keijsers; Alexander Geurts; Jan Willem K Louwerens Journal: J Rehabil Med Date: 2021-05-21 Impact factor: 2.912