Comparison of gait between stroke patients and healthy volunteers using knee-ankle-foot orthoses with adjustable knee flexion

[Purpose] This study aimed to develop an easy-to-operate knee joint for knee-ankle-foot orthoses with four adjustable levels of knee flexion movement and ascertain how different ranges of motion in flexion affect the knee flexion angle during walking. [Participants and Methods] Eight stroke patients participated, for whom knee joints of knee-ankle-foot orthoses were constructed. During walking, the knee flexion angle was measured for the following four knee joint settings: free flexion, 15° of flexion, 30° of flexion, and fixed extension. These measurements were compared to those of eight healthy volunteers from a previous study. [Results] Gait analysis revealed that the knee flexion angle during mid-stance was significantly greater in stroke patients than in healthy volunteers when set to 30° of flexion and in free flexion. [Conclusion] Appropriate adjustment of the range of knee mobility using a knee joint developed for knee-ankle-foot orthoses can prevent disuse atrophy caused by using knee-ankle-foot orthoses with a fixed knee joint.