Energy cost optimized dorsal leaf ankle-foot-orthoses reduce impact forces on the contralateral leg in people with unilateral plantar flexor weakness

Background: In individuals with unilateral plantar flexor weakness, the second peak of the vertical ground reaction force (GRF) is decreased. This leads to a higher ground reaction force, e.g. impact, of the contralateral leg, potentially explaining quadriceps muscle and/or knee joint pain. Energy cost optimized dorsal leaf ankle-foot...

Predicting the effects of ankle-foot orthoses on the gait of patients with calf muscle weakness: A predictive forward dynamics simulation study

Various neuromuscular disorders such as spinal cord injury, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and poliomyelitis lead to calf muscle weakness, which limits the patient's ability to propel their body forward during gait. Their abnormal gait pattern is characterized by increased ankle dorsiflexion, excessive knee flexion during stance and reduced ankle...

Validation of forward simulations to predict the effects of bilateral plantarflexor weakness on gait

Background: Bilateral plantarflexor muscle weakness is a common impairment in many neuromuscular diseases. However, the way in which severity of plantarflexor weakness affects gait in terms of walking energy cost and speed is not fully understood. Predictive simulations are an attractive alternative to human experiments as simulations allow...