Publications by authors named "Masako Fuchi"
Purpose: The synergistic effects of a trunk orthosis and an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) in stroke patients with a hemiplegic gait are unclear. We previously developed a trunk orthosis with joints providing resistive force (TORF) to modify malalignment of the trunk and pelvis and confirmed its positive effects in stroke patients during level walking without an AFO. The aim of the present study was to determine if this trunk orthosis and an AFO have synergistic effects during level walking in community-dwelling patients with chronic stroke.
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- The study aimed to explore how movement fluidity (measured as fluidity index or FI) is related to motor strategies in stroke patients during the sit-to-walk (STW) task.
- Thirty stroke patients and ten healthy individuals were analyzed using motion analysis to compare their performance in the STW task.
- Results showed that stroke patients had lower FI, indicating difficulties in walking movement, which correlated with their balance and physical ability, suggesting that improving these aspects could help enhance their STW performance.
Background: An ankle-foot orthosis using an oil damper is designed to enable natural movement of the ankle joint. Wearing an ankle-foot orthosis using an oil damper has been demonstrated to assist the first rocker in stroke patients, but its effect on their gait when not wearing it is unclear.
Objectives: To determine the effect of use of ankle-foot orthosis using an oil damper on the gait of stroke patients with hemiparesis when not wearing the ankle-foot orthosis.
Background: An ankle foot orthosis (AFO) using an oil damper (AFO-OD) to assist the first rocker during gait was previously developed but the effect on the other rocker functions has not been clarified.
Objectives: The immediate and short-term effects on the gait of stroke patients with the AFO-OD were investigated from the viewpoint of the rocker function.
Study Design: Crossover study.