An ankle-foot orthosis with inhibitor bar: effect on hemiplegic gait.

OBJECTIVE

To test whether an inhibitor bar attached to an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) improves walking ability in hemiplegic stroke patients with tonic toe flexion reflex (TTFR).

DESIGN

Before-after trial.

SETTING

Rehabilitation hospital in Japan.

PARTICIPANTS

Nine patients with TTFR were assigned to the TTFR group, and 8 patients without TTFR were assigned to the control group.

INTERVENTION: Inhibitor bar attached to an AFO.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Gait was analyzed by measuring the number of steps and the time required to walk 10m at a maximal walking speed.

RESULTS

In the TTFR group, use of an inhibitor bar for 2 weeks significantly increased the maximal walking speed, stride length, and cadence by 13.8% (P=.0045), 8.0% (P=.0398), and 6.1% (P=.0056), respectively. There were no significant changes in the control group.

CONCLUSION

An inhibitor bar improved walking ability of hemiplegic patients with TTFR, and its use with an AFO is recommended.