Effect of Rigid Ankle Foot Orthosis on Postural Control and Functional mobility in Chronic Ambulatory Stroke Patients
Isha S. Akulwar and Ashwini V. Bane
Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability in
adults. Damage to the motor cortex or corticospinal tract
often results in contralateral hemiplegia with significant
persistent distal weakness. Gait impairments are common
in stroke patients and are mainly attributed to motor
control deficits. Majority of the stroke patients exhibit a
spastic equinus foot. This is usually related to spasticity of
triceps surae or contracture of this muscle or tendon,
resulting in reduced active ankle dorsiflexion both during
stance and swing phases, which is referred to as drop
foot. Another common finding in the gait of stroke
patients is varus deformity of the foot, which is frequently
caused by spasticity of the posterior tibial muscle.
