Immediate Effect of Fabric Ankle Foot Orthosis on Balance in Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy

• Published in: Han'guk Chŏnmun Mulli Ch'iryo Hakhoe chi = Journal of the Korean Academy of University Trained Physical Therapists Vol. 22; no. 2; pp. 52 - 58
• Main Authors: Sim, Yon-Ju, Yang, You-Jin, Yi, Chung-Hwi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 한국전문물리치료학회 01.06.2015; Korean Academy Of University Trained Physical Therapy
• Subjects: Ankle-foot orthosis; Balance; Cerebral palsy; Foot drop; Cerebral palsy; Foot drop; Ankle-foot orthosis; Balance
• ISSN: 1225-8962

Balance control deficits have been indicated to be a primary problem among cerebral palsy (CP) patients. Fabric ankle foot orthosis (AFO) can allow more efficient balance control by facilitating proprioception. The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effect of fabric AFO on balance, compared to a barefoot condition in children with unilateral CP. Twelve children with unilateral CP participated in this study. Their balance ability was evaluated using pediatric balance scale and bubble test. Both pediatric balance scale and bubble test showed significant improvement with the use of the fabirc AFO (p<.05). The fabric AFO could improve functional balance ability, and promote better balance among children with unilateral CP. We demonstrated that fabric AFO contributed to improving balance among children with unilateral CP, classified as Gross Motor Function Classification System level Ⅰ and Ⅱ. Consequently, fabric AFO might be an assistive device leading to the improvement of balance instead of the typical AFOs.