Evidence-based Customized Ankle-Foot Orthosis with Energy Storage

Three-dimensional printed ankle-foot orthoses (AFO) have been used in stroke patients recently, but there was little evidence of gait improvement. Here, we designed a novel customized AFO with energy storage, named Energy-Storage 3D Printed Ankle-Foot Orthosis (ESP-AFO), and investigated its effects on improvement patients. 12 survivors were recruited (9 females/3 males, age: 55.58 ± 5.9 y/o). Participants instructed to walk (1) bare foot (BF), (2) anterior (AAFO), (3) ESP-AFO, respectively. Gait analysis by the motion capture system performed bilaterally (SL: Sound limb; AL: Affected limb). Participant satisfaction fatigue also compared. We found that ESP-AFO significantly increased bilateral velocity 52.62 19.18 cm/s, BF 47.61 22.78 cm/s; 52.78 19.57 47.31 23.27 cm/s), stride length 78.96 19.16 cm, 74.89 21.92 cm; 79.06 17.82 74.08 21.31 cm). reversed drop-foot swing phase created higher ankle moment at terminal stance. Patients reported more (total satisfaction: 4.3 0.47, AAFO 3.3 0.62). demonstrated custom-made improved performance better than traditional AFOs did. (Registry number clinical trial: A-BR-106-005)