• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.1992-1998
• /
• 2020

Background: The foot drop stimulator is designed to improve the walking ability of foot drop in patients after stroke, however, studies on clinical effects are still lacking. Objective: To investigate the effect of a foot drop stimulator on the walking and balancing abilities of foot drop patients after a stroke. Design: One-Group (Pretest-Posttest) Design. Methods: All subjects walked in all three conditions: foot drop stimulator (FDS) ankle foot orthosis (AFO) and barefoot. Primary outcome measures were assessed for walking and balance using a 10-m walking test (10MWT) and a timed up and go test (TUG). Secondary outcome measures consisted of a brief user interview, and the patients recorded the advantages and disadvantages of each condition. Results: FDS, AFO, and barefoot conditions showed a statistically significant difference in 10MWT and TUG (P<.001) as a result of comparing three conditions. FDS and AFO were significantly different from the barefoot condition as post-hoc results; however, there was no significant difference between the two conditions (P>.05). Conclusion: In this study, the foot drop stimulator contributed to improving the balance ability, and the walking ability was similar to the effect of the ankle-foot orthosis.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.1903-1906
• /
• 2019

Background: Foot drop is a common symptom after stroke and causes walking disorders. Therefore, its proper treatment is important for improving the walking ability of patients with foot drop. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of electrostimulation during walking on the walking ability of patients with foot drop after stroke. Design: Quasi-experial study. Methods: The study enrolled 18 patients with foot drop after stroke. All subjects were assigned to the experimental or control group. The experimental group underwent electric stimulation during walking, while the control group used ankle foot orthoses. Both groups received treatment 20 minutes a day 5 times a week for 4 weeks. Outcome measures were assessed for walking and balance ability using the 10-m walking test (10MWT), 6-min walking test (6MWT), and Timed Up and Go test (TUG) Results: After the intervention, both groups showed significant improvements in 6MWT and TUG results. However, the experimental group showed significantly better improvement on all tests than the control group. Conclusion: The foot drop stimulator effectively improved the walking and balance ability of patients with foot drop after stroke.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.222-228
• /
• 2011

With comparison of maximum vertical reaction force and lower limb on drop landing between normal and flat foot group, this study is to provide fundamental data of the prevention of injury and the treatment of exercise which are frequently occurred on flat foot group's drop landing. The surface electrodes were sticked on lateral gastrocnemius muscle, medial gastrocnemius muscle, tibialis anterior and the drop landing on a force plate of 40cm was performed with a normal group who had no musculoskeletal disease and a flat foot group of 9 people who had feet examinations. Vertical reaction force were significantly statistically different between two groups(p<.001). Muscle activity of lower limbs in all three parts were not statistically different but showed high tendency on average in the flat foot group. The flat foot group had difficulties in diversification of impact burden and high muscle activity. Therefore, it was suggested that muscular strengthening of knee joints and plantar flexions of foot joints which were highly affected in impact absorption will be required.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.391-400
• /
• 2000

A long-term bed rest results in an inevitable foot drop. Yet preventive device such as a foot board and high-neck tennis shoes, are not widely used. This study was conducted to compare the effects of a pillow-type foot board with that of the band-type device. The band-type device of a resonable price is designed for an effective prevention of foot drop, and the convenience for it use. Among the non-equivalent control group design, foot drop preventive effects, usefulness of the device, as well as its cost effectiveness were examined. The study was carried out for four months from December 1999, and its subject had been patients and nurses of two intensive care units at K medical center in Seoul. According to the study purpose, the data collected were analyzed by $x^2-test$ and t-test. The results are as follow : 1. The ROM of ankle joint is promoted in the experimental group with a band-type device comparing the control group with a pillow type one. Dorsiflexion is particularly increased in the experimental group as compared with the control group, while planterflexion hardly shows any change. 2. The usefulness score of the experimental group nurses using the band-type device (23.97) is higher than that of the control group nurses (18.88). 3. In an aspect of the unit production cost, band-type devices are low-priced compare with pillow-type or other foot board (wooden) or high-neck tennis shoes. In summary, the newly developed band-type device is both useful and preventive for a foot drop. It is also desirable regarding to the production cost and the cost effectiveness. This fact proves that the new anti-foot drop device could be practical both for clinical care and home care. Yet the results were obtained by some subjects, it should be used after a further examination. More effective nursing intervention could be observed throughout general studies, including proper positioning and foot and ankle exercises which are the important variables of the foot drop prevention.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.56 no.3
• /
• pp.254-256
• /
• 2014

Weakness of the dorsiflexor muscles of the ankle or toe, referred to as foot drop, is a relatively common presentation. In most cases, foot drop is caused by a lower motor neuron disease such as peroneal peripheral neuropathy, L4-5 radiculopathic sciatic neuropathy, or polyneuropathy. Although upper motor neuron lesions can present as foot drop, the incidence is very rare. Here, we report an extremely rare case in which foot drop was the only presenting symptom of cerebral infarction.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.2060-2064
• /
• 2020

Background: Recently, the kinesiology taping (KT) method was reported to be effective in improving walking ability in foot drop patients after stroke, but the clinical basis is still unclear. Objectives: The KT method was compared with ankle-foot orthotics (AFO) to investigate gait ability in foot drop patients after stroke. Design: Crossover study design. Methods: In this study, 11 stroke patients with foot drop participated. Walking ability of all subjects for both conditions (KT and AFO) was measured using the GAITRite system. The order of application of the two conditions was determined randomly by drawing lots. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare walking ability between the two conditions. The level of statistical significance was set at P<.05. Results: There were no significant differences between the KT and AFO methods in terms of velocity, cadence, step length, and stride length (P>.05, all). Conclusion: This study recommends KT as an alternative to the AFO, since KT provides evidence of preventing of foot drops and improving gait ability in stroke patient.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.111-118
• /
• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on episodes of foot drop and the ability to cross obstacles in stoke patients. Methods: The patient was a 57-year-old man with left hemiplegia. This patient displayed episodes of foot drop while walking and issues with crossing obstacles. The patient underwent therapeutic exercises and occupational therapy twice daily at a hospital five times a week. The patient was treated with PNF outside of these therapeutic sessions. Each session, which was 60 minutes in length, was conducted 3 times a week over 8 weeks. Over the course of treatment, a pre-test and post-test were completed. The patient walked for a test time of 6M. During the testing process, the patient crossed obstacles. In addition, the number of foot drop episodes was recorded. Each test was measured three times to determine the mean value. Results: After the PNF treatments, the number of foot drop episodes decreased from five to one. The 6M walking test time during which the patient crossed obstacles also decreased from 18 seconds to 10 seconds. Conclusion: The use of PNF treatments is beneficial to reduce the number of foot drop episodes while walking and to improve the ability to cross obstacles in stroke patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2020

PURPOSE: Many patients with stroke have difficulties in walking with foot-drop. Various types of ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) have been developed, but their weight needs to be reduced with the assistance of the ankle dorsiflexor. Therefore, an elastic AFO (E-AFO) was devised that not only improves the stability and flexibility of the ankle but also assists with ankle dorsiflexion while walking. This study examined the effects of an E-AFO, on the walking patterns of foot-drop patients with stroke. METHODS: Fourteen patients walked with and without an E-AFO, and the gait parameters were assessed using the GAITRite system. The spatiotemporal data on the gait patterns of stroke patients with foot-drop were compared using paired t-tests; the level of statistical significance was set to α<.05. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in the velocity (p=.066) and affecte+d step length (p=.980), but the affected and less-affected stance (p=.022, p=.002) and swing time (p=.012, p=.005) were significantly different. The E-AFO produced a significant difference in the less-affected step length (p=.032). CONCLUSION: The E-AFO has a significant effect on the walking patterns of individuals with foot-drop and stroke. The E-AFO could be a useful assistive device for gait training in stroke patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.489-496
• /
• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of an arch support taping on navicular drop height and plantar pressure in the subjects with excessive pronated foot for 6 weeks. Methods : The fifteen subjects with the pronated foot group and the fifteen subjects with the normal foot group volunteered for this study. Both groups were applied arch support taping at 3 times a week during 6 weeks. Subjects were assessed navicular drop test to evaluate pronation of subtalar joint and plantar pressure on treadmill for pressure measuring system during walking with a bare foot state at pre- taping, after 3 weeks, and after 6 weeks. A two-way repeated analysis of variance design was used to examine the difference of navicular drop height and plantar pressure in the pronation foot group and the normal foot group. Results : The pronated foot group had significantly decreased both the navicular drop height and the plantar pressure under the medial midfoot than the normal foot group after 6 weeks(p<.01). Conclusions : This study proposed that an arch support taping can be support to lift navicular bone as well as to transfer the foot pressure from medial midfoot to lateral midfoot in individuals with excessive pronated foot.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.99-102
• /
• 2009

This study was to evaluate a case of foot drop treated with placenta pharmacopuncure. After thirteen times of treatment, I evaluated this case by the angle of dorsiflexion, the total sum of gaiting points, the time of heel standing. As a result of evaluation, the angle of dorsiflexion, total sum of gaiting points, time of heel standing were improved. The placenta pharmacopuncture can be used for foot drop and other peripheral nerve palsy.