Biomechanical Evaluation of a Ready-Made TurboMed Ankle Foot Orthosis in a Post-Stroke Patient Using Three-Dimensional Gait Analysis (Motion Capture)
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Abstract
Stroke-related gait impairment is commonly associated with foot drop, reduced walking speed, poor balance, and asymmetrical lower-limb biomechanics. Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are frequently prescribed to improve gait stability and walking efficiency in post-stroke rehabilitation. This study aimed to biomechanically evaluate the effectiveness of a ready-made TurboMed ankle-foot orthosis using three-dimensional gait analysis based on the Helen Hayes marker model. A post-stroke patient underwent motion capture gait assessment under two walking conditions: without an AFO and with a TurboMed AFO. Temporal-spatial and lower-limb kinematic parameters were analyzed and compared. The results demonstrated improvements in walking speed, heel clearance, ankle dorsiflexion, and gait stability during AFO-assisted walking. Walking speed increased from 0.17 m/s to 0.21 m/s, while double-support time decreased from 31.7% to 27.2%, indicating improved balance and confidence during gait. The TurboMed AFO also reduced excessive plantarflexion during swing phase and improved ankle alignment. These findings suggest that ready-made TurboMed AFOs can provide clinically meaningful biomechanical benefits for post-stroke gait rehabilitation.
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