Comparison of five different methodologies for evaluating ankle-foot orthosis stiffness.

Background: The mechanical properties of an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) play an important role in the gait mechanics of the end user. However, testing methodologies for evaluating these mechanical properties are not standardized. The purpose of this study was to compare five different evaluation frameworks to assess AFO stiffness.

The effect of rotational speed on ankle-foot orthosis properties.

Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are devices that support ankle motion. An AFO's sagittal plane rotational stiffness can affect gait kinematics. Because AFOs are often made from viscoelastic materials, their properties may vary at different walking speeds.

The impact of ankle-foot orthosis stiffness on gait: A systematic literature review.

Background: Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are commonly prescribed to provide ankle support during walking. Current prescription standards provide general guidelines for choosing between AFO types, but are limited in terms of guiding specific design parameter choices. These design parameters affect the ankle stiffness of the AFO.

Low-back electromyography (EMG) data-driven load classification for dynamic lifting tasks.

Objective: Numerous devices have been designed to support the back during lifting tasks. To improve the utility of such devices, this research explores the use of preparatory muscle activity to classify muscle loading and initiate appropriate device activation. The goal of this study was to determine the earliest time window that enabled accurate load classification during a dynamic lifting task.