نوع مقاله : مقاله مروری
نویسندگان
1 دانشگاه شهاب دانش
2 دانشگاه شهاب دانش، قم، ایران
3 دانشکده توانبخشی، دانشگاه علوم پزشکی شهید بهشتی، تهران، ایران
چکیده
کلیدواژهها
موضوعات
عنوان مقاله [English]
نویسندگان [English]
Introduction and Aim: Ankle dysfunction is a common consequence of hemiplegia and other neurological disorders such as stroke, often leading to reduced foot stability and impaired gait. The ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) is a key rehabilitation device designed to improve gait performance and ankle-foot function. Among the available designs, the posterior and anterior AFOs are the most commonly prescribed. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of anterior AFOs on gait parameters, balance, and functional performance in hemiplegic patients with foot drop, and to compare these effects with those of posterior AFOs and walking without an AFO.
Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, and Google Scholar databases from their inception to September 2025. Studies that investigated the effects of anterior AFOs on gait variables, balance, and functional outcomes in individuals with hemiplegia were included. The methodological quality of the selected studies was assessed using the modified Downs and Black checklist.
Results: Eleven studies involving 218 individuals with hemiplegia met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were quasi-experimental with moderate methodological quality, while two were rated as good quality. Overall, the use of an anterior AFO significantly improved stride length, walking speed, lateral weight shifting, and weight bearing on the affected limb compared with no AFO (P < 0.05). When compared with posterior AFOs, most parameters showed no significant differences (P > 0.05); however, several studies reported lower energy expenditure and greater user comfort with anterior AFOs.
Conclusion: Wearing an anterior AFO may enhance gait and balance performance in individuals with hemiplegia, although the current evidence is of moderate quality. Further randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes and standardized protocols are recommended to better elucidate the long-term effects of anterior AFOs and to examine the role of therapist-supervised gait training during orthosis use.
کلیدواژهها [English]
)