Efficacy of prefabricated carbon-composite ankle foot orthoses for children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy exhibiting a drop foot pattern.

CONCLUSION: Investigated c-AFOs are beneficial for improving drop foot patterns in children with USCP. Significant effects on pathological barefoot pattern were already achieved with the child's regular shoes. This could be considered in clinical decision processes. In comparison to shoe walking, c-AFO additionally improved foot clearance and normalized initial heel contact. The third rocker deteriorates with the c-AFO. Since kinematics improved with the orthoses during swing and early stance phase, c-AFOs might reduce tripping and falling caused by a drop foot during long distance walking. PMID: 31227662 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine - Category: Rehabilitation Tags: J Pediatr Rehabil Med Source Type: research