Effect of types of ankle-foot orthoses on energy expenditure metrics during walking in individuals with stroke : a systematic review

202205 bcfcNot applicableSelf-fundedPublished12 month

Efficacy of Ankle Supports on Dynamic Postural Control in Patients with Chronic Ankle Instability

Introduction The chronic ankle instability (CAI) that results from a lateral ankle sprain causes balance deficits during quiet standing. Dynamic postural control in patients with CAI can be improved using soft and semirigid braces. Objective This study was aimed at investigating the effects of soft and semirigid ankle supports on dynamic postural stability in subjects with CAI. Materials and Methods Fifteen subjects with unilateral CAI as the CAI group and 15 healthy control subjects as the control group were recruited for participation in the study. Stability indexes (SIs), including overall SI, anteroposterior SI, and mediolateral SI, were determined using the Biodex Balance System (BBS), and lower-limb reach was ascertained using the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT). These indicators were measured under three conditions: Without orthosis, with soft orthosis, and with semirigid orthosis. Results Significant differences in overall SI were found between the affected and healthy feet of the CAI group (P = 0.009) and between the affected feet of the CAI group and the healthy feet of the control group (P = 0.031). The SEBT revealed significant differences between the injured and uninjured sides of the CAI group in the anterior, anterior-medial, and anterior-lateral directions. With the use of soft ankle supports, no significant differences were found between the affected and unaffected limbs of the CAI group in the overall and mediolateral SIs of BBS test and the anterior-medial (P = 0.057) and anterior-lateral (P = 0.07) directions of SEBT. Conclusions The soft ankle support has more effect on the balance of the CAI patients in comparison with the semirigid orthosis. © 2020 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Effect of ankle-foot orthoses on functional outcome measurements in individuals with stroke : a systematic review and meta-analysis

202205 bcfcNot applicableSelf-fundedEarly release12 month

Influence of heel design in an orthopedic shoe on ground reaction forces during walking

Background: One of the treatments prescribed for musculoskeletal patients is orthopedic shoe. The use of an orthopedic shoe is thought to produce a more typical ground reactive force pattern. Objectives: This study was designed to determine the influence of three heel designs of an orthopedic shoe on the ground reaction forces during walking in healthy subjects. Study design: Quasi-experimental. Method: In total, 30 healthy adults (12 males, 18 females) walked at a self-selected pace for six trials in each of the three shoe conditions having three different heels which included the following: standard heel, beveled heel, and positive posterior heel flare. For each trial, ground reaction force parameters were recorded using a force plate. Results: Repeated measures analysis of variance indicated that the impact force was significantly reduced for the positive posterior heel flare condition by 8 and 13 compared with standard and beveled heels, respectively (p < 0.001). The first peak of vertical force showed a significant reduction in the beveled heel by 5 and 4 compared with the standard heel and the positive posterior heel flare, respectively (p < 0.001). Loading rate was significantly reduced in the beveled heel and the positive posterior heel flare conditions (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Positive posterior heel flare reduced impact force due to its geometry flexibility, while a beveled heel reduced first peak of vertical force. The findings of this study show that the shape of the heel therefore has the potential to modify impact loads during walking. Clinical relevance This study provides new evidence that by changing shape in the heel of orthopedic shoe impact loads are reduced during walking. Thus, these findings indicate that use of heel design may be beneficial for various musculoskeletal disorders, including key public health problems. © International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics International