Immediate synergistic effect of a trunk orthosis with joints providing resistive force and an ankle-foot orthosis on hemiplegic gait

Application Experience and Patient Feedback Analysis of 3D Printed AFO with Different Materials: A Random Crossover Study

PURPOSE

This study is aimed at analyzing the application experience and feedback of the patients with poststroke ankle dorsiflexion disorders for 3D printed AFO with three different materials.

METHODS

15 patients were randomly divided into three groups; 3D printed AFO with 3 different materials (PA2200, Somos NeXt, and PA12) was used to each group, according to the crossover study design, in order to ask the three groups of patients to use three different materials of 3D printed AFO. Assessment was taken by the end of each test round. Through statistical processing, the patient feedback data of the three groups of materials of 3D printed AFO were obtained.

RESULTS

In the material comfort assessment of the AFO, Somos NeXt was compared with PA2200, and the p value was <0.05; in the item of surface smoothness of the AFO, Somos NeXt was compared with PA2200, and the p value was <0.01; at the same time, PA12 was compared with PA2200, and the p value was <0.05.

CONCLUSION

The 3 different materials of 3D printing AFO bring different experience, and we also have sufficient reason to believe that there will be differences in the auxiliary effect of this on patients, which leads the patient's selection too. The material Somos NeXt is much popular and has certain clinical advantages.

Effects of a wearable device and functional wear on spinal alignment and jump performance

Background/objective

To elucidate the effects of walking exercise using a wearable device and functional wear on spinal alignment and jump performance.

Methods

In total, 27 female college soccer players were randomly divided into two groups: trunk solution (TS) and compression garments (CGs). Spinal alignment, jump performance, and electromyography activity during the jump performance of the two groups were measured after a 20-min walking exercise. The values for each group were compared t pre- and post-intervention.

Results

The flexibility of the lower thoracic vertebrae in spinal alignment was increased during extension in the TS group. However, the post-value of the abdominal external oblique muscle during a countermovement jump (CMJ) was significantly lower than its pre-value (p < 0.05). In addition, even though spinal alignment was not affected in the CG group, post-values of the jump height during squat jump and CMJ were significantly higher than their pre-values (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the post-value of the biceps femoris during the countermovement jump with arm was significantly lower than its pre-value (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Our study suggested that walking exercise using TS may increase the range of motion of the lower thoracic vertebrae in athletes and reduce the muscular activity of the vastus lateralis during CMJ. Additionally, although spinal aliment is not affected, the jump height may increase using CGs.

A Review on the Control of the Mechanical Properties of Ankle Foot Orthosis for Gait Assistance

In the past decade, advanced technologies in robotics have been explored to enhance the rehabilitation of post-stroke patients. Previous works have shown that gait assistance for post-stroke patients can be provided through the use of robotics technology in ancillary equipment, such as Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO). An AFO is usually used to assist patients with spasticity or foot drop problems. There are several types of AFOs, depending on the flexibility of the joint, such as rigid, flexible rigid, and articulated AFOs. A rigid AFO has a fixed joint, and a flexible rigid AFO has a more flexible joint, while the articulated AFO has a freely rotating ankle joint, where the mechanical properties of the AFO are more controllable compared to the other two types of AFOs. This paper reviews the control of the mechanical properties of existing AFOs for gait assistance in post-stroke patients. Several aspects that affect the control of the mechanical properties of an AFO, such as the controller input, number of gait phases, controller output reference, and controller performance evaluation are discussed and compared. Thus, this paper will be of interest to AFO researchers or developers who would like to design their own AFOs with the most suitable mechanical properties based on their application. The controller input and the number of gait phases are discussed first. Then, the discussion moves forward to the methods of estimating the controller output reference, which is the main focus of this study. Based on the estimation method, the gait control strategies can be classified into subject-oriented estimations and phase-oriented estimations. Finally, suggestions for future studies are addressed, one of which is the application of the adaptive controller output reference to maximize the benefits of the AFO to users.