The effects of dynamic ankle-foot orthoses in chronic stroke patients at three-month follow-up: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the short- and long-term effects of dynamic ankle foot orthoses on functional ambulation activities in chronic hemiparetic patients.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

University's neurological rehabilitation outpatient clinic and orthotics department.

SUBJECTS

Twenty-eight chronic hemiparetic patients of level 3-5 according to Functional Ambulation Classification and with a maximum spasticity level of 3 according to Modified Ashworth Scale, were randomly assigned to the study and control groups.

INTERVENTIONS

The control group (n = 14) was assessed with tennis shoes whereas the study group (n = 14) was assessed initially with tennis shoes and after three months with dynamic ankle foot orthosis.

MEASURES

Functional Reach, Timed Up and Go, Timed Up Stairs, Timed Down Stairs, gait velocity and Physiological Cost Index.

RESULTS

In the initial assessment no difference was found between the groups for any of the measured parameters (P > 0.05). After three months, intergroup comparisons while the patients in the study group were wearing dynamic ankle-foot orthosis showed a significant difference in favour of the study group for Timed Up Stairs 12.00 (10.21) seconds study versus 15.00 (7.29) seconds control group; for gait velocity 0.99 (0.45) m/s study versus 0.72 (0.20) m/s control group and for Physiological Cost Index 0.12 (0.06) beats/min study versus 0.28 (0.13) beats/min control group (P < 0.05). No difference was found between the groups for Functional Reach, Timed Up and Go, Timed Down Stairs (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Chronic hemiparetic patients may benefit from using dynamic ankle-foot orthosis.