Kinetic and Kinematic Assessment of an Individual Post-Stroke with Stiff-Knee Gait Using Various Orthotic Devices: A Case Study.

It is important for individuals who have suffered a stroke to be able to experience a weight-bearing aerobic workout, if able. For individuals post-stroke who experience genu recurvatum during gait, care should be taken to minimize abnormal forces on the posterior and internal structures of the involved knee. The purpose of this case study was to assess the biomechanics of the involved knee during the stance phase of gait of an individual who, post-stroke, walked with a stiff-knee gait in 9 different orthotic conditions. It was hypothesized that a knee-extension-limiting orthotic would minimize abnormal knee hyperextension range of motion (ROM) and peak knee extension moment during the stance phase of gait. It was found that a knee orthotic with a 15° extension stop was most effective in reducing peak knee hyperextension ROM and extensor moment during the stance phase of gait. This study provides clinicians with evidence of an intervention that reduced peak knee hyperextension ROM and extension moment during stance in an individual post-stroke with genu recurvatum who walked with a stiff-knee gait. Further study should compare this orthotic approach to other orthotic approaches to control knee hyperextension for individuals post-stroke who walk with a stiff-knee gait.