Benefits of microprocessor stance-and-swing-phase-controlled knee-ankle-foot orthoses in a person with knee...

The first study to compare walking ability, balance and perceived daily functioning of two microprocessor stance-and-swing-phase-controlled knee-ankle-foot orthoses (SSCKAFOs) and a stance-control KAFO (SCKAFO). A 67-year-old man with knee instability due to the late effects of polio, currently using a NEURO TRONIC SCKAFO received two newly fabricated microprocessor-controlled SSCKAFOs: the NEURO HiTRONIC and C-Brace. Measurements taken after 10-weeks of using each SSCKAFO were compared to the SCKAFO baseline measurements. Outcomes included walking speed, walking energy cost, stair and hill descend, balance performance, balance confidence and perceived daily functioning. Compared to the NEURO TRONIC, both SSCKAFOs improved walking speed (NEURO HiTRONIC: +12.5%, C-Brace: +20.2%), walking energy cost (NEURO HiTRONIC: -11.4%, C-Brace: -12.4%), balance confidence (NEURO HiTRONIC: +11, C-Brace: +24 on the Activities Balance Confidence scale) and perceived daily functioning (NEURO HiTRONIC: +10, C-Brace: +14 on the Orthotics and Prosthetics User Survey-Lower Extremity Functional Status. Stair and hill descend improved exclusively with the C-Brace (both +2). Microprocessor-controlled SSCKAFOs showed improved functioning compared to a SCKAFO in a polio survivor with knee instability. Notably, the C-Brace SSCKAFO provided greater and additional benefits compared to the NEURO HiTRONIC SSCKAFO, highlighting its potential to further enhance daily life functioning.