Article

In order to increase understanding of the biomechanical
consequences of equinus foot on gait, we developed an orthosis to induce an
adjustable degree of unilateral equinus. The aim of this study was to evaluate
its feasibility and consequences on 3D ankle kinematics and kinetics. TECHNIQUE:
3D gait analysis was carried out in 10 healthy children without the orthosis,
with the non-adjusted orthosis and with the orthosis adjusted to +10 degrees , 0
degrees , -10 degrees , -20 degrees of ankle dorsiflexion and maximum
plantarflexion (MP). The amount of dorsiflexion at initial contact was close to
the goniometric measurement. Significant kinematic and kinetic changes occurred
at -10 degrees , -20 degrees and MP. The mean maximum equinus at initial contact
-21.65 degrees +/- 4.17 and during stance -11.61 degrees +/- 4.82 were larger
than those obtained with previous described devices. DISCUSSION: Our device was
easy-to-use and induced an adjustable, well tolerated equinus. It provides a new
way to simulate equinus and its biomechanical consequences on gait.

Langue : ANGLAIS