ANKLE-FOOT ORTHOSES FOR PREAMBULATORY CHILDREN WITH SPASTIC DIPLEGIA

We evaluated the effect of articulating and solid ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) on the transitional movement of sit-to-stand for 15 children ag ed 2-5 years with spastic diplegia and dynamic equinus. Kinematic and kinetic data were collected for each child. The time to reach stable s tanding was determined by using a force plate. Seven children were com parable to age-matched normals while barefoot and were slowed by the u se of AFOs. Eight patients were more than 1 standard deviation slower than normals while barefoot. All were significantly (p < 0.003) improv ed by the use of articulating AFOs. The clinical difference between th ese groups was the presence of equinus during stable standing while ba refoot for patients aided by AFOs, whereas the second group remained p lantigrade barefoot. We conclude that children with spastic diplegia s ith uncontrolled dynamic equinus benefit from the use of articulating AFOs for the movement of sit-to-stand.