A new protocol for complete 3D kinematics analysis of the ankle foot complex in stroke patients

Introduction Most widespread clinical gait analysis protocols for lower limb kinematics provide information about the ankle motion only in the sagittal plane. Behavior of the foot in the coronal plane during gait is usually determined just through the measure of the foot angle of progression. In the clinical practice most of the patients, particularly with upper motor disease, present a complex deformity of the foot in the three anatomical planes, most frequently in equinus, varus, supinated foot. Adequate kinematic analysis requires full consideration of the 3D ankle-foot complex position and motion on the basis of appropriate biomechanical conventions. The aim of the present work is to test the efficacy of current kinematic protocols for gait analysis in the measurement of 3D motion in stroke patients with foot deformities before and after surgery.