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Functional effect of an ankle foot orthosis on gait in multiple sclerosis: a pilot study
Lynne R Sheffler1, Maureen T Hennessey, Jayme S Knutson
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Objective:
The objective was to determine whether an ankle foot orthosis improves gait velocity and tasks of functional ambulation in multiple sclerosis (MS).
Design:
This cross-sectional study enrolled 15 participants with diagnosis of MS, dorsiflexion and eversion weakness, and more than 3 mos of using a physician-prescribed ankle foot orthosis (AFO). Subject ambulation was evaluated (1) without an AFO and (2) with an AFO. Outcome measures were the Timed 25-Foot (T25-FW) Walk portion of the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC) and the five trials (Floor, Carpet, Up and Go, Obstacles, Stairs) of the Modified Emory Functional Ambulation Profile (mEFAP).
Results:
The mean timed differences on the T25-FW and the five components of the mEFAP between the AFO vs. no device trials were not statistically significant.
Conclusions:
In MS subjects with dorsiflexion and eversion weakness, no statistically significant improvement was found performing timed tasks of functional ambulation with an AFO.
