Purpose: There are two purposes of this study: (1) to investigate the effects of anterior ankle-foot-orthosis and posterior ankle-foot-orthosis on static standing balance, dynamic standing balance and walking performance in stroke patients. (2) to compare the effects between anterior ankle-foot-orthosis and posterior ankle-foot-orthosis on static standing balance, dynamic standing balance and walking performance in stroke patients. Methods: Fifteen first stroke patients participated in this study. The static and dynamic balance and walking performance were measured in the following three experimental conditions: wearing shoes only, wearing shoes and anterior ankle-foot-orthosis, wearing shoes and posterior ankle-foot-orthosis. The balance measures were collected by Rsscan pressure measurement system, and the footswitch was used to define the gait cycle during a 10-meter distance walking test. Repeated measure analysis of variance was used. Results: Two types of ankle-foot-orthosis affect the static and dynamic balance ability, and walking performance obviously. But the difference of the effects between two types of ankie-fool-orthosis was not significant. The posterior ankle-foot-orthosis tended to improve the standing balance ability and walking performance of stroke patients more prominently than the anterior ones did. Conclusion: The effects of two types of ankle-foot-orthosis might affect the static and dynamic standing balance differently. Posterior ankle-foot-orthosis might be another choice appropriate for stroke patients in Taiwan. Therapists should educate the patient the proper use of the orthosis and shoes to prevent negative effects.
Relation:
Journal of Taiwan Occupational Therapy Research and Practice,3(2),94-109.
