Ankle-foot orthosis mechanical testing: a scoping review

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Assistive Technology
• Rehabilitation Engineering

Background:

• Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are vital assistive devices for gait support.
• AFO mechanical properties, like rotational stiffness, dictate their effectiveness.
• Standardized measurement techniques for AFOs are currently lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and categorize existing methods for measuring AFO mechanical properties.
• To introduce a taxonomy for describing and comparing AFO testing methodologies.
• To identify challenges in current AFO measurement techniques.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was performed using a snowballing approach.
• Literature searches were conducted in PubMed, Engineering Village, and Web of Science.
• Included studies experimentally measured AFO mechanical properties, extracting data on testing specifications and limb presence.

Main Results:

• Most AFO testing methods are benchtop-based, with fewer in-situ methods using biological limbs.
• Key challenges include replicating biological gait, such as bending axis, multi-planar motion, and limited testing parameters.
• A taxonomy was developed to classify AFO testing methods.

Conclusions:

• The developed taxonomy aids in comparing AFO devices and guides future research.
• Standardized, biomimetic testing methods and validation techniques are needed for AFO development.
• Improved AFO measurement will lead to optimized device properties and enhanced user outcomes.