Real-Time Measurement of Dynamic Ankle Stiffness during Gait in Individuals with Chronic Stroke

Research Objectives: To measure real-time dynamic ankle stiffness in sagittal plane during gait in individuals with chronic stroke using a novel biomechanical ankle structure.

Design: Cross-sectional observational study

Setting: Rehabilitation Hospital setup

Participants: A total of five healthy subjects and five stroke patients participated in this study

Interventions: To walk on 5 conditions, (1) even surface, (2) Stair up/down ,and (3) Stair up/down

Main Outcome Measures: To measure real-time vertical ground reaction forces to calculate dynamic ankle stiffness during gait

Results: The ankle dynamic ankle stiffness characteristics showed different patterns between stroke survivors and healthy normal, i.e., less forward stiffness in stroke.

Conclusions: Our study successfully distinguished the characteristics of hemiparetic ankle dynamics stiffness during gait on various conditions from those in healthy controls.

Author(s) Disclosures: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.