Ground-foot reaction forces in hemiplegic gait patterns with and without orthopaedic aids

The objective of this study was to attempt the analysis of the ground-foot reaction forces in hemiplegic patients in routine gait re-education conditions, with and without supporting this process with typical orthopaedic aids. Ninety people with hemiparesis participated. The subjects were divided into three groups, according to their locomotion type (no walking aids, stick and elbow crutch). The ground-foot reaction forces during level gait trial were measured for each subject. Analysis was carried out by means of Kistler lane. The ANOVA results showed a considerable effect on almost all ground-foot reaction force parameters, brought about both by the paralysis itself and any walking stick or elbow crutch supporting locomotion. The use of the orthopaedic provisions, especially the elbow crutch, prolongs the time of the single-stance phase duration considerably. In conclusion, the distinct asymmetry of hemiplegic gait manifests itself in the distribution of the ground-foot reaction force. In the sagittal plane, the values of the force impulse indicate that people with a walking stick accelerated using the healthy limb and slowed down using the paralysed limb. In elbow crutch patients the acceleration function seems to be taken over by the crutch.