Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Publication Date

3-2018

Publisher

Elsevier

Source Publication

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Source ISSN

0003-9993

Abstract

Objective

To determine whether a powered ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) that provides dorsiflexor and plantar flexor assistance at the ankle can improve walking endurance of persons with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Design

Short-term intervention.

Setting

University research laboratory.

Participants

Participants (N=16) with a neurologist-confirmed diagnosis of MS and daily use of a prescribed custom unilateral passive AFO.

Interventions

Three 6-minute walk tests (6MWTs), 1 per footwear condition: shoes (no AFO), prescribed passive AFO, and portable powered AFO (PPAFO). Assistive devices were worn on the impaired limb.

Main Outcome Measures

Distance walked and metabolic cost of transport were recorded during each 6MWT and compared between footwear conditions.

Results

Each participant completed all three 6MWTs within the experimental design. PPAFO use resulted in a shorter 6MWT distance than did a passive AFO or shoe use. No differences were observed in metabolic cost of transport between footwear conditions.

Conclusions

The current embodiment of this PPAFO did not improve endurance walking performance during the 6MWT in a sample of participants with gait impairment due to MS. Further research is required to determine whether expanded training or modified design of this powered orthosis can be effective in improving endurance walking performance in persons with gait impairment due to MS.

Comments

Accepted version. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vol. 99, No. 3 (March 2018): 484-490. DOI. © 2018 Elsevier. Used with permission.

Rachel E. Bollaert was affiliated with University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign at the time of publication.

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