Walking energy expenditure in soldiers with lower extremity injuries with and without a dynamic ankle foot orthosis

Abstract

Purpose: Injury rates to the lower extremity for soldiers have led to increased ankle-foot orthotic (AFO) prescription. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of no brace, the TAFO, and the DAFO on steady-state physiologic responses during walking in soldiers with lower extremity injuries. Methods: Six male service members with drop foot were tested at baseline in no brace, a TAFO, and a DAFO; three and six month data collection sessions involved repeated testing in the no brace and the DAFO. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the three brace conditions at baseline testing and there were no statistically significant differences in no brace and the DAFO over time. Conclusions: The subjects' demonstrated measured physiological responses within reported norms for healthy subjects at baseline or by month three. Analysis of physiologic responses showed no reduction in energy expenditure in the DAFO when compared to the TAFO and no brace.