Citation

Naito Y, Kamiya M, Kanai A, Ota S. J. Phys. Ther. Sci. 2019; 31(11): 913-916.

Affiliation

Department of Rehabilitation and Care, Seijoh University, Japan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Society of Physical Therapy Science)

DOI

10.1589/jpts.31.913

PMID

31871376

PMCID

PMC6879413

Abstract

[Purpose] In this study, we investigated the immediate effect on walking using a custom-made hinged knee brace with adjustable knee flexion and extension support (support brace) in patients in the acute phase of stroke. [Participants and Methods] Thirteen patients (56.8 ± 6.8 years) who experienced stroke and who were able to walk independently participated in the study. The walking speed and mean knee extension strength were evaluated under three conditions: no brace, general brace, and support brace. [Results] The walking speed of patients while using the support brace was significantly faster (0.60 ± 0.11 m/s) than that without brace (0.45 ± 0.16 m/s) and with general brace (0.52 ± 0.14 m/s). The fastest walking speed among all 8 patterns (no brace, general brace, and the support brace with six different patterns of support) was with the support brace. The mean knee extension strength while wearing a support brace (1.01 ± 0.24 Nm/kg) was significantly greater than that without wearing a brace (0.82 ± 0.28 Nm/kg). [Conclusion] The support brace, which allows for customizable adjustment of the flexion and extension strength, enhanced the walking ability of patients who experienced ambient stroke and were in the acute phase.

2019©by the Society of Physical Therapy Science. Published by IPEC Inc.

Language: en

Keywords

Custom-made hinged knee brace; Gait; Stroke