Three-curve rocker-soled shoes and gait adaptations to intermittent claudication pain: A randomised crossover trial.

Background: Intermittent claudication (IC) is a symptom of peripheral arterial disease where a cramp-like leg pain is exhibited during walking, which affects gait and limits walking distance. Specifically-designed rocker-soled shoes were purported to mechanically unload the calf musculature and increase walking distances until IC pain.

Research Questions: Do three-curve rocker-soled shoes increase walking distance and what are the biomechanical differences during pain-free walking and IC pain-induced walking, when compared with control shoes?

Methods: Following NHS ethical approval, 31 individuals with claudication (age 69 ± 10 years, stature 1.

Unloading shoes for intermittent claudication: a randomised crossover trial.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the functional effects and acceptability of rocker-soled shoes that were designed to relatively "unload" the calf muscles during walking in people with calf claudication due to peripheral arterial disease.

Methods: In this randomised AB/BA crossover trial, participants completed two assessment visits up to two weeks apart. At each visit, participants completed walking tests whilst wearing the unloading shoes or visually-similar control shoes.

The influence of new medial linkage orthosis on walking and independence in spinal cord injury patients: a pilot study.

In an effort to overcome the disadvantages of reciprocating gait orthoses (RGOs) and medial linkage orthoses (MLOs), a new design of MLO was developed. Therefore the aim of this study was comparison effect of a new reciprocating MLO and traditional isocentric RGO on gait parameters and functional independence (orthosis donning and doffing time) in spinal cord injury (SCI) subjects to provide more evidence of its efficacy. Four people with motor incomplete SCI participated in this study.

Evaluation of gait symmetry in poliomyelitis subjects: Comparison of a conventional knee-ankle-foot orthosis and a new powered knee-ankle-foot orthosis.

Background: Compared to able-bodied subjects, subjects with post-polio syndrome and poliomyelitis demonstrate a preference for weight-bearing on the non-paretic limb, causing gait asymmetry.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the gait symmetry of the poliomyelitis subjects when ambulating with either a drop-locked knee-ankle-foot orthosis or a newly developed powered knee-ankle-foot orthosis.

Study Design: Quasi experimental study.

The effect of aging on gait parameters in able-bodied older subjects: a literature review.

Background: Gait disorders are common in the elderly populations, and their prevalence increases with age. Abnormal gait has been associated with greater risk for adverse outcomes in older adults, such as immobility and falls, which in turn lead to loss of functional independence and death.

Aim: The purpose of this review was to evaluate all of the original papers that measured gait parameters in the healthy elderly subjects.

The effect of trunk extension on physiological cost index in spinal cord injury patients when using the advanced reciprocating gait orthosis: A pilot study.

Background: People with spinal cord injury walk with a flexed trunk when using reciprocating gait orthoses for walking. Reduction in trunk flexion during ambulation has been shown to improve gait parameters for reciprocating gait orthosis users.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect on energy expenditure when spinal cord injury patients ambulate with an advanced reciprocating gait orthosis while wearing a thoracolumbosacral orthosis to provide trunk extension.

Comparison of gait between healthy participants and persons with spinal cord injury when using the advanced reciprocating gait orthosis.

Background: The advanced reciprocating gait orthosis (ARGO) has a rigid structure which provides restricted movement at the hip, knee, and ankle joints and incorporates a pelvic section with an extended section in the lumbar region. Healthy subjects, when walking with an RGO in situ, could feasibly demonstrate the level of limitation in movement imposed by ARGO-assisted ambulation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the function of the advanced reciprocating gait orthosis when fitted with the dorsiflexion-assist ankle-foot orthoses on temporal-spatial parameters and kinematics of walking in both able-bodied people and those with spinal cord injury.

Comparison of the efficacy of a neutral wrist splint and a wrist splint incorporating a lumbrical unit for the treatment of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Background: Different types of splints have been used as a conservative intervention to improve symptoms in patients with Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Although a number of studies have been undertaken to compare different splints, information and understanding of the influence of these interventions are lacking.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of a classic thermoplastic wrist splint or a wrist splint with an additional metacarpophalangeal unit on pain, function, grip strength, and pinch strength in patients with mild-to-moderate carpal tunnel syndrome.

The physiological cost index of walking with a powered knee-ankle-foot orthosis in subjects with poliomyelitis: A pilot study.

Background: A powered knee-ankle-foot orthosis was developed to provide restriction of knee flexion during stance phase and active flexion and extension of the knee during swing phase of gait.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine its effect on the physiological cost index, walking speed and the distance walked in people with poliomyelitis compared to when walking with a knee-ankle-foot orthosis with drop lock knee joints.

Study Design: Quasi experimental study.

The influence of a powered knee-ankle-foot orthosis on walking in poliomyelitis subjects: A pilot study.

Background: Traditionally, the anatomical knee joint is locked in extension when walking with a conventional knee-ankle-foot orthosis. A powered knee-ankle-foot orthosis was developed to provide restriction of knee flexion during stance phase and active flexion and extension of the knee during swing phase of gait.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine differences of the powered knee-ankle-foot orthosis compared to a locked knee-ankle-foot orthosis in kinematic data and temporospatial parameters during ambulation.

Effect of a new hand-forearm splint on grip strength, pain, and function in patients with tennis elbow.

Background: While the effectiveness of orthoses prescribed for tennis elbow has been reported in several studies, the effect of how they may limit movements which aggravate this condition has not yet been explored.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a new spiral hand-forearm splint that restricts the movement of the wrist and forearm, on grip strength, pain, and function in patients with tennis elbow.

Study Design: Quasi-experimental design.

The influence of thermoplastic thoraco lumbo sacral orthoses on standing balance in subjects with idiopathic scoliosis.

Background: Idiopathic scoliosis patients have postural equilibrium problems.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess postural control in subjects with idiopathic scoliosis following a 4-month intervention in an unbraced position.

Study Design: Quasi-experimental.

A systematic review of the effect of foot orthoses and shoe characteristics on balance in healthy older subjects.

Background: Foot orthoses are used to optimize lower extremity function and can improve postural stability by enhancing the afferent somatosensory feedback available to the central nervous system.

Objective: The aim of this review was to evaluate the effect of foot orthoses on balance control in older subjects.

Study Design: Systematic review.

The gait and energy efficiency of stance control knee-ankle-foot orthoses: A literature review.

Background: The use of knee-ankle-foot orthoses with drop locked knee joints produces some limitations for walking in subjects with quadriceps muscle weakness. The development of stance control orthoses can potentially improve their functionality.

Objectives: The aim of this review was to compare the evidence of the effect of stance control orthoses to knee-ankle-foot orthoses with drop locked knee joints in improving kinematic variables and energy efficiency of walking by subjects with quadriceps muscle weakness caused by different pathologies.

The effect of knee orthoses on gait parameters in medial knee compartment osteoarthritis: A literature review.

Background: Knee osteoarthritis is a musculoskeletal condition which is most prevalent in the medial compartment. This injury causes considerable pain, disability, and negative changes in kinetic and kinematic parameters. The efficiency of unloader valgus brace as a conservative treatment for medial knee osteoarthritis is not well documented.

The use of an adjustable electrode housing unit to compare electrode alignment and contact variation with myoelectric prosthesis functionality: A pilot study.

Background: Usable myoelectric control relies on secure and intimate contact at all times between the electrode, the socket and the residual limb. At present, there is little post-fitting socket adjustment available to prosthetists with respect to electrode contact security or alignment. Failure to provide secure electrode contact could result in the development of motion artefacts, poor prehensor response and subsequent prosthesis non-usage.

Correlations between Berg balance scale and gait speed in individuals with stroke wearing ankle-foot orthoses - a pilot study.

Purpose: The Berg balance scale (BBS) is commonly used to assess balancing ability in patients with stroke. The BBS may be a good candidate for clinical assessment prior to orthotic intervention, if it correlates well with outcome measures such as gait speed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between the BBS measured prior to walking with an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) and specific temporal-spatial parameters of gait when walking with an AFO donned.

The influence of trunk extension in using advanced reciprocating gait orthosis on walking in spinal cord injury patients: A pilot study.

Background: Spinal cord injury patients walk with a flexed trunk when using reciprocating gait orthoses. Reduction of trunk flexion during ambulation may produce an improvement in gait parameters for reciprocating gait orthosis users.

Objectives: To investigate the effect on kinematics and temporal-spatial parameters when spinal cord injury patients ambulate with an advanced reciprocating gait orthosis while wearing a thoracolumbosacral orthosis to provide trunk extension.

The efficacy of foot orthoses on alteration to center of pressure displacement in subjects with flat and normal feet: a literature review.

Purpose: The aim of this review was to evaluate and compare the effect of foot orthoses on center of pressure (CoP) displacement in healthy patients and those with flat foot.

Method: The search strategy was based on the Population Intervention Comparison Outcome (PICO) method. A search was performed in PubMed, Science Direct, Google scholar and ISI web of knowledge databases by using selected keywords.

Influence of orthotic gait training with powered hip orthosis on walking in paraplegic patients.

Objectives: Gait training has been shown to improve the walking performance of spinal cord-injured (SCI) patients. The use of powered hip orthoses (PHO) during gait training is one approach which could potentially improve rehabilitative outcomes for such subjects. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the influence of a PHO on the kinematics and temporal-spatial parameters of walking by SCI patients.

The influence of thoracolumbosacral orthoses on standing balance in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a pilot study.

Background And Aim: The objective of this study was to assess the effect of thoracolumbosacral orthoses (TLSOs) on antero-posterior (AP) sway, medio-lateral (ML) sway and displacement of the center of pressure (COP) during a longitudinal study in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Methods: Eight females aged between 12 and 14.5 years participated in this study.

The efficacy of powered orthoses on walking in persons with paraplegia.

Background: Powered orthoses are a new generation of assistive devices for people with spinal cord injury, which are designed to induce motion to paralyzed lower limb joints using external power via electric motors or pneumatic or hydraulic actuators.

Objective: Powered gait orthoses provide activated movement of lower limb joints to limit the forces applied through the upper limb joints and trunk muscles during ambulation due to the need to use an external walking aid, while simultaneously improving the kinetics and kinematics of walking in subjects with spinal cord injury. This article reviews their walking efficacy when used by people with paraplegia.

The influence of a bespoke unloader knee brace on gait in medial compartment osteoarthritis: a pilot study.

Background: Patients suffering from mild-to-moderate medial compartment knee osteoarthritis may be treated with an unloader knee orthosis. However, compliance has been shown to be an issue with such devices.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the effects of a new design of knee unloader orthosis on specific gait parameters in patients with mild-to-moderate medial knee osteoarthritis.

The efficiency of mechanical orthoses in affecting parameters associated with daily living in spinal cord injury patients: a literature review.

Objective: The most simple and common approach in providing standing and walking by subjects with spinal cord injury (SCI) is the use of mechanical orthoses. These include traditional orthoses, medial linkage orthoses (MLOs) and reciprocating gait orthoses (RGOs). Independence, energy expenditure, gait parameters, system reliability and cosmesis are important factors in orthotic design.

The influence of a rocker sole adaptation on gait parameters in spinal cord injury patients ambulating with the advanced reciprocating gait orthosis - a pilot study.

Objective: When walking with an advanced reciprocating gait orthosis (ARGO), ankle and knee joint motion is restricted which causes an un-cosmetic gait compared to normal walking. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a rocker modification for use with the ARGO in order to improve hip joint kinematics, walking speed, step length and cadence.

Method: Spinal cord injury patients (n = 4) with thoracic-level injury participated in this study, and walked with a standard ARGO and one which was also adapted with a rocker sole in a randomized order.