Quantification of the effect of the mechanical property of ankle-foot orthoses on hemiplegic gait

Abstract An experimental ankle-foot orthosis of which the flexibility and the initial angle of the ankle joint can be changed arbitrarily was made to assess the effect of mechanical property of ankle-foot orthoses on the hemiplegic gait. Gait of 15 hemiplegic patients was measured continuously using the experimental ankle-foot orthosis, and the data were analysed statistically. Results showed that assistive dorsiflexion moment adequate to the individual patient's disability at the time of the initial foot contact improves the gait of the hemiplegic patient throughout the whole gait cycle.