OBJECTIVE DIAGNOSIS OF EQUINUS DURING GAIT PRIOR TO AND FOLLOWING A TIBIAL NERVE BLOCK

A quantitative evaluation technique has been developed to assist the c linician in the diagnosis and treatment of ankle equinus deformity. Sp ecifically, the work focuses on accomplishing two major goals: 1) to d evelop a reliable set of quantitative criteria to assess the degree of dysfunction of the ankle joint during locomotion in patients with equ inus deformity; and 2) to determine the effect of various treatment mo dalities on the ambulatory performance of patients with equinus deform ity. A statistically significant difference in two key gait parameters has been demonstrated between healthy subjects and those with equinus deformity.