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The Influence of a Rocker Sole Adaptation on Gait Parameters in Spinal Cord Injury Patients Ambulating With the Advanced Reciprocating Gait Orthosis-A Pilot Study Publisher Pubmed



Arazpour M1 ; Hutchins SW2 ; Bani MA1 ; Curran S3 ; Bahramizadeh M1 ; Saberi H4 ; Mardani MA1
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Orthotics and Prosthetics Department, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Science, Kodakyar St., Tehran, 1985713834, Iran
  2. 2. IHSCR, Faculty of Health and Social Care, University of Salford, Salford, United Kingdom
  3. 3. Wales Centre for Podiatric Studies, Cardiff School of Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, CF5 2YB, United Kingdom
  4. 4. Department of Neurosurgery, Brain and Spinal Injuries Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Source: Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology Published:2015


Abstract

Objective: When walking with an advanced reciprocating gait orthosis (ARGO), ankle and knee joint motion is restricted which causes an un-cosmetic gait compared to normal walking. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a rocker modification for use with the ARGO in order to improve hip joint kinematics, walking speed, step length and cadence. Method: Spinal cord injury patients (n=4) with thoracic-level injury participated in this study, and walked with a standard ARGO and one which was also adapted with a rocker sole in a randomized order. Results: Mean walking speed and step length were both significantly increased by volunteer SCI subjects when ambulating using the ARGO adapted with a rocker sole compared to the standard ARGO. Cadence was not significantly affected, but swing time was significantly reduced and mean hip flexion and extension were both significantly increased when walking with the adapted ARGO. Conclusion: The rocker sole modification produced an increase in walking speed and step length, and improved sagittal plane hip joint kinematics when ambulating using an ARGO. Using this type of shoe modification has the potential to improve gait parameters in SCI patients compared to the standard unmodified version.Implications for RehabilitationThe ARGO adapted with a rocker sole could be used by spinal cord injury patients.A major advantage of the walking with the ARGO adapted with a rocker sole was increased of walking speed and step length, and improvement of the sagittal plane hip joint kinematics.The findings of this study would appear to provide useful data for rehabilitation teams who utilize orthoses to walk and rehabilitate SCI subjects. Using this type of shoe modification has the potential to improve gait parameters in SCI patients compared to the standard un-modified version. © 2015 Informa UK Ltd.
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2. The Influence of Trunk Extension in Using Advanced Reciprocating Gait Orthosis on Walking in Spinal Cord Injury Patients: A Pilot Study, Prosthetics and Orthotics International (2015)
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4. The Influence of New Reciprocating Link Medial Linkage Orthosis on Walking and Independence in a Spinal Cord Injury Patient, Spinal Cord (2015)
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Experts (# of related papers)
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