Shigeru Kubo

Comparative Study of Mechanical Characteristics of Plastic AFOs

Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are categorized four ways with respect to their shape: posterior spring, anterior spring, side-stay and spiral. In this article the flexibility of these types of AFOs fitted to the limb is measured using a muscle training machine. A comparison of the flexibility of different types of AFOs is made.

Development of an Ankle-Foot Orthosis with Dorsiflexion Assist, Part 2: Structure and Evaluation

An ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) for hemiplegic patients called the DACS (dorsiflexion assist controlled by spring) AFO was developed. Previous studies have shown the DACS AFO to have the following desirable characteristics: 1) the magnitude of the dorsiflexion assist moment and the initial ankle angle of the AFO can be changed easily, and 2) no plantarflexion assist moment is generated. DACS AFOs were used daily by 5 hemiplegic patients, and their evaluations were favorable. In this paper, the structure and the mechanical characteristics of the DACS AFO and the gait improvement of hemiplegic patients with the DACS AFO are shown.

Quantification of the Effect of Dorsi-/ Plantarflexibility of Ankle-Foot Orthoses on Hemiplegic Gait: A Preliminary Report

A series of studies has been done to establish an objective and quantitative method to determine the optimum dorsi-lplantarflexibility of an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) for various patients.