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| Gait Comparison of Subjects with Hemiplegia Walking Unbraced, with Ankle-Foot Orthosis, and with Air-Stirrup Brace |
| Source: Burdett RG, Borello-France D, Blatchly C, et al: Physical Therapy 68(8): 1197-1203, 1988 |
| Summary: The purpose of this study was to "examine the effects of the AS [Air-Stirrup®] brace on gait characteristics of patients with hemiplegia and to compare its effectiveness with plastic and metal AFOs [ankle-foot orthoses]." Videotaped trials and footprint analyses were used. Results showed that the "AS brace was associated with statistically significant decreases in 1) plantar flexion during swing phase and at toe-off, 2) inversion at foot-strike, and 3) maximum calcaneal angular change after foot-strike… This study shows that the AS brace was as effective as an AFO in controlling mediolateral instability for the subjects with hemiplegia… The AS brace, therefore, is useful as a temporary or long-term inexpensive substitute for an AFO for selected hemiplegic patients with inversion or eversion instabilities." |