Immediate effects of a buffered knee orthosis on gait in stroke patients with knee hyperextension.

Background: Patients exhibit considerable variations in gait patterns especially in knee hyperextension in the stance phase after stroke. If knee hyperextension is untreated it may lead to pain, reduced independence in activities of daily living, deformities and instability.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of a buffered knee orthosis on gait of stroke patients with knee hyperextension.