Biomechanical improvements following foot strike biofeedback training for a patient using a passive dynamic ankle-foot orthosis during running.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Passive dynamic ankle-foot orthoses have potential to facilitate return to running after a lower limb trauma. However, transitioning patients to new movement patterns that enhance passive dynamic ankle-foot orthoses benefits can pose a challenge. The purpose of this case study was to report biomechanical and functional outcomes for a patient utilizing a passive dynamic ankle-foot orthoses following completion of a session-based, midfoot strike run training program.

CASE DESCRIPTION AND METHODS

A patient using a passive dynamic ankle-foot orthoses to run due to surgically reconstructed tibia\fibula fracture underwent eight treadmill running sessions over 2 weeks while viewing continuous visual feedback on measured foot strike.

FINDINGS AND OUTCOMES

After treatment, foot strike was changed from rearfoot to midfoot on the affected limb along with an 18% increase in mechanical work ratio of the ankle-foot-brace complex. Similar improvements were retained at one and five months following treatment.

CONCLUSION

This report provides preliminary evidence that biofeedback-based foot strike training can enhance ankle-foot mechanical performance of patients using a passive dynamic ankle-foot orthoses to run.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

For patients using a passive dynamic ankle-foot orthoses to run following lower limb trauma, supplementing standard rehabilitation programs with biofeedback-based footstrike training may improve biomechanical performance and running capability.