The purpose of this study is to evaluate how two different settings of a commercially available ankle foot brace affect how stroke patients walk. The study brace is an ankle foot orthosis (AFO) that makes use of a newer type of joint that contains a soft insert, in addition to the conventional hard stops, to limit the range of motion of the ankle during walking. The results of this study will help to clarify 1) whether and how this new joint affects the way you walk, 2) whether it makes it easier for the clinician to align your brace and 3) your opinions about the new joint.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate how two different settings of a commercially available ankle foot brace affect how stroke patients walk. The study brace is an ankle foot orthosis (AFO) that makes use of a newer type of joint that contains a soft insert, in addition to the conventional hard stops, to limit the range of motion of the ankle during walking. Participants undergo testing in the gaitlab after using the new brace for a period of time. The results of this study will help to clarify 1) whether and how this new joint affects the way you walk, 2) whether it makes it easier for the clinician to align your brace and 3) your opinions about the new joint.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
5
Conventional polypropylene custom molded ankle foot orthosis (MAFO) with Lawrence style double channel adjustable joints containing pins/springs
MossRehab
Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, United States
Self-selected Walking Velocity
walking velocity will be assessed by an electronic temporospatial foot-fall measurement system (gaitmat)
Time frame: 8 weeks
Step Length Symmetry
step length symmetry will be assessed by an electronic temporospatial foot-fall measurement system (gaitmat). symmetry will result in a ratio of step length on more involved or affected side compared to the less involved or affected (i.e. the "normal") side. as such, the measure will appear to have no units but actually will be a ratio of the same units (in this case, meters to meters).
Time frame: 8 weeks
Step Time Symmetry
step time symmetry will be assessed by an electronic temporospatial foot-fall measurement system (gaitmat). symmetry will result in a ratio of step time on more involved or affected side compared to the less involved or affected (i.e. the "normal") side. as such, the measure will appear to have no units but actually will be a ratio of the same units (in this case, seconds to seconds).
Time frame: 8 weeks
Joint Kinematics
joint kinematics will be assessed using motion capture system
Time frame: 8 weeks
Joint Kinetics
joint kinematics will be assessed using motion capture and biomechanical force measurement systems
Time frame: 8 weeks
Activity (Step Count)
activity will be measured using accelerometer based step activity monitoring devices
Time frame: 8 weeks
Subject Opinions
subject opinions will be measured using surveys and questionnaires
Time frame: 8 weeks
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