Evaluating Effects of Ankle-Foot Orthosis

 

A certified orthotist and prosthetist, Paul Leimkuehler recently received a promotion to the position of clinical director within Physio O&P. As an orthotics and prosthetics practitioner, Paul Leimkuehler is knowledgeable of lower-limb orthotics, including ankle foot orthotics (AFOs).

Also known as a foot drop brace, AFOs are braces usually made out of plastic. They are worn to support the ankle and hold it in the correct position to correct cases of foot drop. A symptom of a muscular, anatomical, or neurological problem, foot drop is the inability to easily lift the front part of the foot.

Because AFOs are worn on a long-term basis, researchers have conducted a number of studies to determine effects and evaluate the safety of AFOs. A 2002 study published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation sought to determine whether the use of AFOs led to decreased muscular activity. Muscular activity was measured using surface electromyography. Measurements were taken both immediately and after six weeks.

The results showed that while the use of AFO resulted to an immediate muscular activity reduction on the ankle dorsiflexors, there was no accumulation in activity reduction when compared to the control group.