Effect of Custom Dynamic Orthoses on Forefoot Loading
University of Iowa
Summary
The proposed study is designed to evaluate how foot loading changes during initial accommodation to a carbon fiber custom dynamic orthosis (CDO), after targeted training with or without visual feedback of foot loading, and after take-home use of the CDO. This study will quantify initial offloading associated with CDO use and determine if visual feedback of foot loading and additional take-home use of the CDO can further reduce forces, as orthotists work to provide CDOs to patients.
Description
This study is designed to evaluate the effects of initial accommodation, CDO related training, and take-home use on foot loading during gait. In this study, adult participants who experienced an injury below the knee and require a CDO will walk without the CDO, then with the CDO following initial prescription, after training with or without visual force feedback, and after additional take-home use of the CDO. Participants will be randomized to to training with or without visual feedback of foot loading forces. Wireless force measuring sensors will be used to measure forces under the foot with…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Patient Inclusion criteria * Ages: 18-65 * Sustained a function limiting injury below the knee, requiring a carbon fiber custom dynamic orthosis * Shoe size between women's 8 and 13.5 or men's 6.5 and 13 * Any of the following: weakness of ankle plantarflexors (\<4/5 on MMT), limited pain free ankle motion (DF\<10deg or PF\<20deg), mechanical pain with loading onto hindfoot/midfoot/forefoot (\>4/10 on verbal numeric pain rating scale), ankle or hindfoot fusion, candidate for ankle or hindfoot fusion, candidate for amputation secondary to ankle/foot impairment * Ability to walk 25 feet without…
Interventions
- OtherVisual Feedback
Visual feedback of foot loading during gait.
Locations (2)
- University of IowaIowa City, Iowa
- Cornerstone Prosthetics and OrthoticsEverett, Washington