Increased trailing limb angle in hemiplegic patients after training with a knee orthosis: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Stroke often induces gait abnormality, such as buckling knee pattern, compromising walking ability. Previous studies indicated that an adequate trailing limb angle (TLA) is critical for recovering walking ability.

Objective: We hypothesized that correcting gait abnormality by immobilizing the knee joint using a knee orthosis (KO) would improve walking patterns and increase the TLA, and investigated whether walking training using a KO would increase the TLA in post-stroke patients.

Predictors indicating the continuous need for a knee-ankle-foot orthosis in stroke patients at 1 month after onset.

Objectives: To investigate predictors indicating the continuous need for a knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) at 1 month after stroke onset in patients who cannot walk without a KAFO in the acute period.

Materials And Methods: We enrolled patients with severe hemiplegia (n = 139) who were unable to walk without a KAFO on day 10 from stroke onset. The patients were divided into two groups depending on the need for a KAFO at 1 month after the onset: the KAFO group and non-KAFO group.

Lower limb muscle strength of the affected side in stroke patients is an accurate predictor of the need for a KAFO.

Background: Accurate prediction of recovery is essential to determine whether a knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) is required in the subacute phase of stroke. However, there are currently no reliable methods to predict such recovery.

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether muscle strength of the affected lower limb (affected side LL strength) in stroke patients in the subacute phase who cannot walk without a KAFO can be used to predict the continuous need for a KAFO, using a hand-held dynamometer.

A Narrative Review of Alternate Gait Training Using Knee-ankle-foot Orthosis in Stroke Patients with Severe Hemiparesis.

Impairments resulting from stroke lead to persistent difficulties with walking. Subsequently, an improved walking ability is one of the highest priorities for people living with stroke. The degree to which gait can be restored after a stroke is related to both the initial impairment in walking ability and the severity of paresis of the lower extremities.

Impact of Alternate Gait Training Using Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthoses with Oil Damper Ankle Hinge in Patients with Subacute Severe Hemiplegia.

Patients with severe hemiplegia along with knee instability require knee-ankle-foot orthoses (KAFOs) for gait training. However, in these patients, it is unclear which type of walking training is more effective to improve gait function. Providing alternate gait training (AGT) improves walking function in patients with spinal cord injury, but it is still unclear whether this is effective in hemiplegic stroke patients.