EFFECT OF ANKLE-FOOT ORTHOSES ON GAIT KINEMATICS AND SPATIOTEMPORAL PARAMETERS IN FOOT DROP USING KINOVEA VIDEO ANALYSIS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66021/pakmcr1466Keywords:
Foot drop, Ankle-Foot Orthosis, gait analysis, Kinovea, Gait kinematics, spatiotemporal parameters, Ankle dorsiflexion, Functional Mobility.Abstract
Foot Drop is a gait disorder where the ankle does not dorsiflex sufficiently during the swing phase of gait leading to toe drag, decreased walking efficiency and an increased risk of falls. Ankle-Foot orthosis (AFOs) is a common orthotic device prescribed to improve foot clearance, gait stability and functional mobility in people with foot drop. Objective measurement of gait is necessary to assess the efficacy of orthotic intervention. Kinovea Software is identified as Low-cost and accessible tool for motion analysis in the clinical setting.
Objective
To assess the impact of Ankle Foot Orthosis on Spatiotemporal parameters and gait kinematics in subjects with foot drop, by means of Kinovea Video analysis.
Methodology
A quasi-experimental pre-test post-test study was carried out on 21 patients with foot drop. Two conditions were assessed: AFO and no AFO. The walking speed, step length, cadence, toe clearance, ankle dorsiflexion angle at initial contact and initial contact type was measured by video analysis using the Kinovea software. The statistical analysis was carried out using paired t-test with significance level p≤ 0.05.
Result
The intervention of AFOs resulted in significance improvements in all measured gait parameters. Walking Speed increased from 0.61 ± 0.10 m/s to 0.84 ± 0.11 m/s, step length from 36.55 ± 4.78cm to 46.32 ± 5.08cm, cadence from 75.33 ± 7.61 to 88.86 ± 7.66 steps/min, and toe clearance from 0.54 ± 0.27 cm to 1.75 ± 0.32 cm (p ≤ 0.001). Ankle dorsiflexion at initial contact improved from -11.2° ± 5.43° to 0.48° ± 1.88°. A substantial shift toward heel-strike gait pattern was also observed following AFO use.
Conclusion
Ankle-foot orthoses significantly improved gait kinematics and spatiotemporal parameters in individuals with foot drop. Kinovea software provides a trustable, accessible and cost-effective method for objective gait assessment and monitoring orthotic outcomes in clinical practice.
