Farzad Farmani1, Mohammad-Ali Mohseni-Bandpei2, Mahmood Bahramizadeh3, Gholamreza Aminian3, Ali Abdoli4, Mohammad Sadeghi-Goghari5. 1. Department of Orthotics & Prosthetics, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran; Department of Orthotics & Prosthetics, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2. Department of Physiotherapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: Mohseni_bandpei@yahoo.com. 3. Department of Orthotics & Prosthetics, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 4. Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran. 5. Department of Physiotherapy, School of Paramedical Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of rocker bar ankle foot orthosis (RAFO) on the spatiotemporal characteristics of gait in chronic hemiplegic patients compared with the effect of solid ankle foot orthosis (SAFO). METHODS: Following ethical approval, 18 patients with chronic hemiplegia, at least 6 months post stroke, were investigated in barefoot condition, with SAFO and RAFO in random sequences. Their spatiotemporal characteristics were examined by 2 force platforms and a Vicon motion analysis system. RESULTS: There were significant changes in spatiotemporal outcome measures between barefoot condition and using SAFO and RAFO (P < .05). Compared with SAFO, RAFO resulted in significantly more step length, faster gait velocity, and less preswing time (P < .05), although no significant differences were seen regarding step width and cadence (P > .05). Furthermore, RAFO led to significant increases in hip extension and knee flexion at toe-off, whereas SAFO did not change these parameters (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Findings of the present study showed that RAFO further improves gait abilities in chronic hemiplegic patients compared with SAFO, which could be due to the positive effect of added rocker bar on push-off function during the late stance phase of gait.
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of rocker bar ankle foot orthosis (RAFO) on the spatiotemporal characteristics of gait in chronic hemiplegic patients compared with the effect of solid ankle foot orthosis (SAFO). METHODS: Following ethical approval, 18 patients with chronic hemiplegia, at least 6 months post stroke, were investigated in barefoot condition, with SAFO and RAFO in random sequences. Their spatiotemporal characteristics were examined by 2 force platforms and a Vicon motion analysis system. RESULTS: There were significant changes in spatiotemporal outcome measures between barefoot condition and using SAFO and RAFO (P < .05). Compared with SAFO, RAFO resulted in significantly more step length, faster gait velocity, and less preswing time (P < .05), although no significant differences were seen regarding step width and cadence (P > .05). Furthermore, RAFO led to significant increases in hip extension and knee flexion at toe-off, whereas SAFO did not change these parameters (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Findings of the present study showed that RAFO further improves gait abilities in chronic hemiplegic patients compared with SAFO, which could be due to the positive effect of added rocker bar on push-off function during the late stance phase of gait.