Custom Ankle-Foot Orthosis in Foot Drop: Influence on Body Joints Kinematics

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Orthotics and Prosthetics
• Rehabilitation Engineering

Background:

• Ankle Foot Orthoses (AFOs) are common for foot drop.
• Their effect on gait kinematics is not well-established.
• Understanding compensatory movement patterns is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate common compensatory movement patterns in trunk, knee, and hip joints during walking in individuals with foot drop.
• Evaluate the impact of conventional and 3D-printed custom passive AFOs on joint kinematics.

Main Methods:

• Eight patients with unilateral foot drop underwent walking trials on an instrumented treadmill.
• Kinematic data of trunk, knee, and hip joints were collected.
• Analyses compared gait with conventional AFO, custom AFO, and no AFO.

Main Results:

• Passive AFOs showed no significant effect on overall joint kinematics.
• A custom 3D-printed AFO demonstrated a significant improvement in trunk anterior flexion.
• Altered biomechanics persist, indicating limitations of passive orthoses alone.

Conclusions:

• Passive Ankle Foot Orthoses have limited impact on correcting compensatory joint kinematics in foot drop.
• Custom AFOs may offer specific benefits like improved trunk posture.
• Integrated physical training and orthotic use are essential for effective rehabilitation.