Ankle-foot orthosis with an oil damper versus nonarticulated ankle-foot orthosis in the gait of patients with subacute stroke: a randomized controlled trial.
Sumiko Yamamoto, Naoyuki Motojima, Yosuke Kobayashi and 3 others
PMID 35619141WHAT IT FOUND
Patients walking with an ankle-foot orthosis that allows free upward movement (oil damper) showed greater ankle dorsiflexion during stance and swing compared to those with a rigid orthosis.
This suggests the oil damper AFO may better preserve natural ankle mechanics in subacute stroke.
Key findings
01The ankle joint was more dorsiflexed in single stance with the oil damper AFO compared to the nonarticulated AFO.
02Peak ankle power absorption in stance was larger with the oil damper AFO compared to the nonarticulated AFO.
03There was no significant difference between the two AFO groups in peak ankle plantarflexion moment or peak ankle power generation.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study was non-blinded, which could introduce bias in gait training or assessment. AFOs were not custom-made, so fit differences might have affected results. Most participants used a cane, which may have influenced gait mechanics and limited generalizability to those walking without aids. The study was conducted in a single rehabilitation center, limiting generalizability to other settings. Plantarflexion stiffness characteristics differed between the two AFO types (viscosity vs elasticity), which could confound direct comparisons.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was supported by non-U.S. government grants.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the AFO-OD improves walking speed or propulsion. While it preserved ankle dorsiflexion and power absorption better than the rigid AFO, there was no difference in peak ankle power generation, walking velocity, or step length between the groups.