Carbon Fiber Two-Pull Solid Ankle-Foot Orthoses versus Serial Casting in the Treatment of Idiopathic Toe Walking with Ankle Equinus Contracture

2021 ◽  
Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole A. Hoffman ◽  
Joanna R. Dallum ◽  
Scott Hinshon ◽  
Michael D. Finch
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Fiber ◽  
Foot Orthoses ◽  
Serial Casting ◽  
Ankle Foot Orthoses ◽  
Idiopathic Toe Walking ◽  
Equinus Contracture ◽  
Toe Walking

The Effectiveness of Serial Casting and Ankle Foot Orthoses in Treating Toe Walking in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽  
Author(s):  
Marybeth Barkocy ◽  
Jodi Schilz ◽  
Sandra Heimerl ◽  
Madeleine Chee ◽  
Meghan Valdez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Foot Orthoses ◽  
Serial Casting ◽  
Ankle Foot Orthoses ◽  
Toe Walking

Carbon Fiber Based Twisted and Coiled Artificial Muscles (TCAMs) for Powered Ankle-Foot Orthoses (AFO)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parth Kotak ◽  
Jason Wilken ◽  
Kirsten Anderson ◽  
Caterina Lamuta
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Fiber ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Input Voltage ◽  
Input Power ◽  
Artificial Muscles ◽  
Specific Work ◽  
Foot Orthoses ◽  
Ankle Foot Orthoses ◽  
Low Cost Manufacturing

Abstract Ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) control the position and motion of the ankle, compensate for weakness, and correct deformities. AFOs can be classified as passive or powered. Powered AFOs overcome the limitations of passive AFOs by adapting their performance to meet a variety of requirements. However, the actuators currently used to power AFOs are typically heavy, bulky, expensive, or limited to laboratory settings. Thus, there is a strong need for lightweight, inexpensive, and flexible actuators for powering AFOs. In this technical brief, Carbon Fiber/Silicone Rubber (CF/SR) Twisted and Coiled Artificial Muscles (TCAMs) are proposed as novel actuators for powered AFOs. CF/SR TCAMs can lift up to 12,600 times their weight with an input power of only 0.025 W cm-1 and are fabricated from inexpensive materials through a low-cost manufacturing process. Additionally, they can provide a specific work of 758 J kg-1 when an input voltage of 1.64 V cm-1 is applied. A mechanical characterization of CF/SR TCAMs in terms of length/tension, tension/velocity, and active-passive length/tension is presented, and results are compared with the performance of skeletal muscles. A gait analysis demonstrates that CF/SR TCAMs can provide the performance required to supplement lower limb musculature and replicate the gait cycle of a healthy subject. Therefore, the preliminary results provided in this brief are a stepping stone for a dynamic AFO powered by CF/SR TCAMs.

scholarly journals Manufacturing and analysis of carbon fiber knee ankle foot orthosis

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 2236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayad M. Takhakh ◽  
Saif M. Abbas
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Carbon Fiber ◽  
Tensile Tests ◽  
Foot Orthoses ◽  
Well Control ◽  
Ankle Foot Orthosis ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Ankle Foot Orthoses ◽  
Foot Orthosis

Knee ankle foot orthoses (KAFOs) are used by paraplegia patients with low level spinal cord injury and having well control of the stem muscles. Four layers of carbon fiber with C- orthocryl lamination resin are used for manufacturing the knee ankle foot orthoses in this work. The mechanical properties of most of the components materials were estimated with the aid of fatigue and tensile test machines. Results of the tensile tests showed that the mechanical properties: yield stress, ultimate strength and modulus of elasticity were 92MPa, 105.7MPa and 2GPa respectively. The value of amidst pressure between the patient limb and the manufactured KAFO was measured using (F-socket) Mat scan sensor and these values of pressure were (663kPa) and (316kPa) for the thigh and calf regions respectively. 

Full length foot orthoses have an immediate treatment effect and modify gait of children with idiopathic toe walking

2019 ◽  
Vol 68 ◽  
pp. 227-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne Michalitsis ◽  
Anna T Murphy ◽  
Barry Rawicki ◽  
Terry P Haines ◽  
Cylie Williams
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Effect ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Foot Orthoses ◽  
Idiopathic Toe Walking ◽  
Toe Walking

Idiopathic Toe-Walking

2014 ◽  
Vol 104 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cylie M. Williams ◽  
Paul Tinley ◽  
Barry Rawicki
Keyword(s):  
Botulinum Toxin Type A ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Term Effect ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Surgical Interventions ◽  
Serial Casting ◽  
Long Term Effect ◽  
Idiopathic Toe Walking ◽  
Toe Walking

Background Idiopathic toe-walking (ITW) is a condition commonly seen by podiatric physicians. Because a toe-walking gait style is also caused by or associated with many other medical conditions, podiatric physicians should pay particular attention to ensuring an accurate diagnosis. There are many reported treatment options available for ITW. Therefore, a literature review was conducted to determine what treatment options are supported by the evidence as having the best long-term effect on ITW gait. Methods After extraction of relevant articles, 21 manuscripts reporting treatment options for ITW gait were appraised against the levels of evidence. Results From these articles, there was no single treatment option reported as having a long-term effect on the gait of children with ITW. There was support in the literature for surgical interventions, serial casting, and the use of botulinum toxin type A. There was limited evidence that footwear or orthoses changed the gait pattern. Conclusions This review updates the knowledge of podiatric physicians, enhances how children who present with this gait style can be managed, and highlights areas for future research.

Non-invasive serial casting to treat idiopathic toe walking in an 18-month old child

2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emidio E. Pistilli ◽  
Tracy Rice ◽  
Paola Pergami ◽  
Mary Beth Mandich
Keyword(s):  
Non Invasive ◽  
Serial Casting ◽  
Idiopathic Toe Walking ◽  
Toe Walking

scholarly journals Serial ankle casts for patients with idiopathic toe walking: effects on functional gait parameters

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Thielemann ◽  
G. Rockstroh ◽  
J. Mehrholz ◽  
C. Druschel
Keyword(s):  
Gait Analysis ◽  
Ankle Dorsiflexion ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Plantar Flexors ◽  
Serial Casting ◽  
Gait Parameters ◽  
Idiopathic Toe Walking ◽  
Functional Gait ◽  
Toe Walking

Purpose The aim of the present study was to investigate the functional effects on gait parameters of serial ankle casts for patients with idiopathic toe walking (ITW), in comparison with an unremarkable control group. Methods A prospective trial with a pre-test–post-test control group design included ten patients with ITW and ten healthy matched children. Children with ITW underwent serial casting to stretch the plantar flexors, with two 14-day periods with walking plaster casts set at the maximum available ankle dorsiflexion. Both groups were assessed clinically and using a functional gait analysis before and after serial casting, as well as at a six-month follow-up visit. Results The normalized plantar heel force increased from 5% pre-interventionally to 79% at the follow-up. The upper ankle-joint angle and the base angle also demonstrated significant changes. Normalized compound action potentials of the medial heads of the gastrocnemius were reduced by 70%. None of these parameters demonstrated any significant differences at the follow-up examination in comparison with the healthy control group. Variations in the displacement of the knee joint on the sagittal plane and of the center of gravity in the transverse plane did not show any significant differences in comparison with the control group. Conclusion The reduction of muscle tone and lengthening of the ankle plantar flexors led to persistent increased active ankle dorsiflexion with significant long-term improvement of functional kinematic parameters. No significant difference in the gait analysis was found between the ITW group and healthy children six months after treatment. Level of Evidence Level II - Therapeutic

Selective Laser Sintered Versus Carbon Fiber Passive-Dynamic Ankle-Foot Orthoses: A Comparison of Patient Walking Performance

2014 ◽  
Vol 136 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole G. Harper ◽  
Elizabeth M. Russell ◽  
Jason M. Wilken ◽  
Richard R. Neptune
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Carbon Fiber ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Selective Laser Sintering ◽  
Foot Orthoses ◽  
Gait Performance ◽  
Ankle Foot Orthoses ◽  
Subject Specific ◽  
Walking Performance ◽  
Design Characteristics

Selective laser sintering (SLS) is a well-suited additive manufacturing technique for generating subject-specific passive-dynamic ankle-foot orthoses (PD-AFOs). However, the mechanical properties of SLS PD-AFOs may differ from those of commonly prescribed carbon fiber (CF) PD-AFOs. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine if biomechanical measures during gait differ between CF and stiffness-matched SLS PD-AFOs. Subject-specific SLS PD-AFOs were manufactured for ten subjects with unilateral lower-limb impairments. Minimal differences in gait performance occurred when subjects used the SLS versus CF PD-AFOs. These results support the use of SLS PD-AFOs to study the effects of altering design characteristics on gait performance.

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