The effect of articulated AFO with Hydra pneumatic damper in biomechanical characteristic of drop foot

Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFOs) are frequently prescribed in the management of drop-foot patients. However, few studies have examined the benefits of different design of AFOs with elements added to AFOs like dampers or springs as an actuator, stored energy at the first half of the stance phase and restored at the entire swing phase.The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of articulated AFO with Hydra pneumatic damper, in biomechanical characteristic of drop foot patients.

Ten drop foot patients were recruited for this study, walked at self-selected comfortable speed. A three-dimensional motion analysis, were used for obtaining kinetic, spatio-temporal and kinematic gait parameters

The articulated AFO with Hydra pneumatic damper significantly improved self selected speed, cadence, step length in participants (P<0.005). Furthermore, the peak and mean of torque, push off velocity and energy storing/returning significantly improved by articulated AFO with Hydra pneumatic damper (P<0.005). 

The newly designed articulated AFO with Hydra pneumatic damper, as an actuator, provided adequate torque in drop foot patient. Kinetic, spatio-temporal and kinematic parameters improved by wearing this AFO at comfortable self-selected speed.