Article

Ankle-foot orthoses are usually used in combination with footwear.
Shoe design can have a significant effect on kinematics of the lower limb joints
and line of action of the ground reaction force during walking. But, ankle-foot
orthosis-footwear combination is not appropriate for indoor barefoot walking in
some Asian cultures. In this study, we have modified a solid ankle-foot orthosis
in order to set it in the same position as a solid ankle-foot orthosis-footwear
combination. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of a modified solid ankle-foot
orthosis; a solid ankle-foot orthosis which can be locked in different positions
on gait and balance performance in comparison with a conventional solid
ankle-foot orthosis, a common solid ankle-foot orthosis-shoe combination in
asymptomatic adults. STUDY DESIGN: Cross sectional. METHODS: Two standard solid
ankle-foot orthoses were manufactured with the ankle joint in neutral position.
Then, one of these solid ankle-foot orthoses was modified in order to allow
locking in a different alignment. Walk across, limit of stability, and
sit-to-stand tests of the balance master system were performed while participants
wore the modified solid ankle-foot orthosis aligned in 5 degrees -7 degrees
anterior inclination without a shoe and a conventional solid ankle-foot
orthosis-shoe combination. RESULTS: There was no significant change in walking
speed, step length, and step width with the conventional and modified solid
ankle-foot orthoses. In addition, movement velocity and maximum excursion of the
center of gravity during the limit of stability test were not different, although
the maximal forward excursion of the center of gravity was longer when wearing
the modified solid ankle-foot orthosis compared to the conventional solid
ankle-foot orthosis-shoe combination (P = 0.000). Sway velocity of the center of
gravity did not change during the sit-to-stand test. CONCLUSION: The results
demonstrated that the modified solid ankle-foot orthosis had the same effects as
the conventional solid ankle-foot orthosis-shoe combination on the gait and
balance performance of asymptomatic adults. Clinical relevance The findings of
the present study can be used as the basis for further investigations on the
efficacy of the modified solid ankle-foot orthoses in different neuromuscular
populations in order to help people who do not wear shoes at home, as is the
custom in some Asian cultures.

Langue : ANGLAIS