Posture and vision: How different distances of viewing target affect postural stability and plantar pressure parameters in healthy population.

Background: Postural stability is maintained by the Postural Control System (PCS), consisting of anatomical structures of Central Nervous System and peripheral receptors, interacting with each other, in order to keep whole-body balance by modulating the myofascial chains against gravity. The vision is one of the most important peripheral receptors for postural control. Previous studies analyzed the changes of body sway during viewing nearby (VNT) and distant (VDT) targets in healthy population without considering the feet adaptations related to the body weight distribution.

Functional evaluation of a novel fibreglass-reinforced polyamide custom dynamic AFO for foot drop patients: A pilot study.

Background: Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are orthopaedic devices often prescribed to treat foot drop. For patients who are not satisfied with off-the-shelf solutions, custom AFOs personalized to the patient's lower limb anatomy are required. Dynamic AFOs provide stability while allowing for physiological ankle mobility in the stance phase of walking.

Postural stability and plantar pressure parameters in healthy subjects: variability, correlation analysis and differences under open and closed eye conditions.

The "postural control system" acts through biomechanical strategies and functional neuromuscular adaptations to maintain body balance under static and dynamic conditions. Postural stability and body weight distribution can be affected by external sensory inputs, such as different visual stimuli. Little information is available about the influence of visual receptors on stabilometric and plantar pressure parameters.

Clinical and multi-segment kinematic analysis of a modified Grice arthrodesis to correct type II adult-acquired flat-foot.

Background: Adult acquired flat foot (AAFF) is a symptomatic postural alteration of the foot due to modifications in bony structures and/or soft tissues supporting the medial longitudinal arch. For the most severe cases, when orthotic solutions do not provide enough pain relief, surgery may be necessary.

Research Question: Is it possible to restore a normal medial longitudinal arch and to correct the static and dynamic frontal plane alignment of the rearfoot via a modified Grice surgical procedure in AAFF patients?

Methods: Eleven patients with stage II AAFF were recruited in the study and underwent the Grice procedure.

A novel apparatus to assess the mechanical properties of Ankle-Foot Orthoses: Stiffness analysis of the Codivilla spring.

Ankle-Foot Orthoses (AFOs) are the most common devices prescribed to support the ankle and restore a quasi-normal gait pattern in drop-foot patients. AFO stiffness is possibly the main mechanical property affecting foot and ankle biomechanics. A variety of methods to evaluate this property have been reported, however no standard procedure has been validated and widely used.