Ankle Foot Orthoses: Design, Clinical Effectiveness and Standardisation of terminology

About this project

Our research shows that the appropriate design and tailoring of splints can reduce the energy used by children with CP while increasing their speed and distance, compared with a splint which is not fine-tuned.

Our research shows that the appropriate design and tailoring of splints can reduce the energy used by children with CP while increasing their speed and distance, compared with a splint which is not fine-tuned. This is something which could have a significant impact on their quality of life. During the study, the researchers analysed the walking pattern of children with cerebral palsy at our gait laboratory and participants were assessed while barefoot and with both non-tuned and tuned splints. Children wearing the fine-tuned splints showed improvements in several areas including hip and pelvic function and knee extension, while a non-tuned splint potentially showed a decrease in hip function.

The term Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO) has been standardised and defined by the International Organization for Standardisation which offers general terms for external orthoses, describing terms relating to external orthoses including the abbreviation AFO. These standards relate to functional deficiencies including a description of the person to be treated with an orthosis, clinical objectives of treatment, and functional requirements of the orthosis and offers categorisation and description of external orthoses and orthotic components using the aforementioned standards. However, it is important to point out that these definitions and standardisations only apply to the term "AFO". Yet the terms used to describe the different types of AFOs have not been standardised and defined.

Lead researcher

Dr Nicola Eddison

Associated researchers

Professor Nachiappan Chockalingam

Professor Of Clinical Biomechanics

As Professor of Clinical Biomechanics, I direct the Movement Analysis Laboratory and lead the biomechanics team and research at Staffordshire University. I am also an Affiliate Professor at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta

Nachiappan's profile

Dr Aoife Healy

Associate Professor

Aoife is a researcher within the Centre for Biomechanics and Rehabilitation Technologies. Her area of research is clinical biomechanics, with a focus on mobility assistive technology, diabetic footwear, gait analysis and plantar pressure measurement.

Aoife's profile

Robert Needham

Senior Lecturer

Robert's research background is in the areas of sport and clinical biomechanics. The focus of his research is on the application of non-linear data analysis techniques to quantify movement coordination and coordination variability. Robert's rese…

Robert's profile

Collaborators

In collaboration with Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust

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