Gait measurement is of interest for both orthopedists and biomechanical engineers. It is useful for analysis of gait disorders and in design of orthotic and prosthetic devices. In recent years portable sensors have been studied as a complement to vision based (Morris & Paradiso, 2002). They have been used to measure both the kinematics of gait such as accelerations and angles as well as kinetic...

User satisfaction is afforded considerable importance as an outcome measurement in evidence-based healthcare and the client-centered approach. Several studies have investigated user satisfaction with orthoses. Few studies have investigated user satisfaction with orthoses in Taiwan. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the user satisfaction with orthotic devices and service us...

Purpose The Lower Limb Function Questionnaire (LLFQ) was developed as a self-report assessment of lower-limb functional ability for orthotic and prosthetic (O&P) device users to be suitable for a wide range of conditions, cultures, and ages. The measure aims to address an existing gap in tools for the assessment of functional ability in this population. The purpose of this study is to evaluate ...

BACKGROUND Foot orthotics are commonly utilized in the treatment of patellofemoral pain (PFP) and have shown clinical benefit; however, their mechanism of action remains unclear. Patellofemoral joint stress (PFJS) is thought to be one of the main etiological factors associated with PFP. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a prefabricated foot...

OBJECTIVE To compare the differential effect of custom orthoses on the lower extremity mechanics of a forefoot and rearfoot strike pattern. DESIGN Fifteen subjects ran with both a forefoot and a rearfoot strike pattern with and without orthoses. Lower extremity kinematic and kinetic variables were compared between strike pattern and orthotic conditions. BACKGROUND Foot orthoses have been sh...

Evaluating the need for orthotic treatment may include the measure of forefoot-to-hindfoot alignment. This paper describes a table-mounted goniometric device that improves intra-rater reliability and simplifies the measurement of forefoot alignment. Instructions for constructing the device are provided. Use of this device may help clinicians evaluate forefoot alignment when making orthotic corr...

BACKGROUND Currently, custom foot and ankle orthosis prescription and design tend to be based on traditional techniques, which can result in devices which vary greatly between clinicians and repeat prescription. The use of computational models of the foot may give further insight in the biomechanical effects of these devices and allow a more standardised approach to be taken to their design, ho...

One of the principal activities of the members of the Biomechanics Laboratory during the past two decades has been the study of human locomotion . A major objective of these studies has been the accumulation of data that might be used in the design and construction of improved prosthetic and orthotic devices . The investigations have included electromyograms of the phasic action of muscles, for...