Influence of ankle-foot orthoses on kinematic segmental covariation among stroke patients.

Bleyenheuft, Corinne [Mont-Godinne] Deltombe, Thierry [UCL] Detrembleur, Christine [UCL]

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of ankle-foot orthosis on lower limbs kinematic segmental covariation (KSC) among stroke patients. METHODS: Ten chronic hemiparetic spastic stroke patients presenting with a lack of ankle dorsiflexion were assessed with instrumented gait analysis under three conditions: wearing a shoe, with a prefabricated ankle-foot orthosis (AFO), and with a dynamic AFO. Kinematic parameters were recorded and computed KSC was calculated according to Borghese's methodology. RESULTS: Contrary to the prefabricated AFO, the dynamic AFO improved KSC of the paretic side. We observed a high correlation between the external mechanical work and the affected side's KSC. In the unaffected side, KSC was globally unchanged. CONCLUSION: In stroke patients, wearing a dynamic AFO improves KSC of the paretic lower limb only.