Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 18, 2026
Evaluating Postural Control and Lower-extremity Muscle Activation in Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability
Published on: September 18, 2020
Foot drop splints improve proximal as well as distal leg control during gait in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
Gita M Ramdharry1, Brian L Day, Mary M Reilly
1School of Rehabilitation Sciences, St George's University of London and Kingston University, Cranmer Terrace, SW17 ORE United Kingdom.
Introduction:
During walking, people with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease may compensate for distal weakness by using proximal muscles. We investigated the effect of different AFOs on distal leg control and proximal compensatory actions.
Methods:
Fourteen people with CMT were tested while wearing 3 types of ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) bilaterally compared with shoes alone. Walking was assessed using three-dimensional gait analysis. Stiffness of the splints was measured by applying controlled 5-degree ankle stretches using a motor.
Results:
The results showed that each AFO significantly stiffened the ankle and increased ankle dorsiflexion at foot clearance compared with shoes alone. At push off, peak ankle power generation was reduced, but only with 1 type of AFO. A significant decrease in hip flexion amplitude during the swing phase was observed with all 3 AFOs.
Conclusions:
These results indicate that AFOs reduce foot drop and remove the need for some proximal compensatory action.
