The effects of alignment of an articulated ankle-foot orthosis on lower limb joint kinematics and kinetics during gait in individuals post-stroke

Mechanical tuning of an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) is important in improving gait in individuals post-stroke. Alignment and resistance are two factors that are tunable in articulated AFOs. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of changing AFO ankle alignment on lower limb joint kinemat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of biomechanics 2019-01, Vol.83, p.57-64
Main Authors: Kobayashi, Toshiki, Orendurff, Michael S., Hunt, Grace, Gao, Fan, LeCursi, Nicholas, Lincoln, Lucas S., Foreman, K. Bo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
AFO
Alignment
Ankle
Ankle Joint - physiopathology
Biomechanical Phenomena
Feet
Female
Fitness equipment
Foot Orthoses
Gait
Hip
Humans
Kinematics
Kinetics
Knee
Knee Joint - physiopathology
Long-term effects
Male
Mechanical Phenomena
Middle Aged
Motion capture
Orthoses
Prosthesis
Range of Motion, Articular
Resistance
Resistance factors
Stiffness
Stroke
Stroke - physiopathology
Studies
Three dimensional motion
Walk
Walking
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Summary:Mechanical tuning of an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) is important in improving gait in individuals post-stroke. Alignment and resistance are two factors that are tunable in articulated AFOs. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of changing AFO ankle alignment on lower limb joint kinematics and kinetics with constant dorsiflexion and plantarflexion resistance in individuals post-stroke. Gait analysis was performed on 10 individuals post-stroke under four distinct alignment conditions using an articulated AFO with an ankle joint whose alignment is adjustable in the sagittal plane. Kinematic and kinetic data of lower limb joints were recorded using a Vicon 3-dimensional motion capture system and Bertec split-belt instrumented treadmill. The incremental changes in the alignment of the articulated AFO toward dorsiflexion angles significantly affected ankle and knee joint angles and knee joint moments while walking in individuals post-stroke. No significant differences were found in the hip joint parameters. The alignment of the articulated AFO was suggested to play an important role in improving knee joint kinematics and kinetics in stance through improvement of ankle joint kinematics while walking in individuals post-stroke. Future studies should investigate long-term effects of AFO alignment on gait in the community in individuals post-stroke.
ISSN:0021-9290
1873-2380
DOI:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2018.11.019