Automatic postural responses in individuals with peripheral neuropathy and AFOs

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Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2006 Apr 20

Automatic postural responses in individuals with peripheral

neuropathy and ankle-foot orthoses.

Rao N, Aruin AS.

njoy Rehabilitation Hospital, Wheaton, IL 60189, USA.

Eleven individuals with sensory neuropathy participated in static and

dynamic balance tests with and without ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs).

During the tests the subjects were required to stand on a fixed or

moving computer-controlled platform with their eyes open or closed.

Equilibrium scores, response latency, and strength scores were

obtained. For all tests equilibrium scores were significantly larger

in experiments with AFOs in comparison to conditions without AFOs

(P<0.01).

Decreased latency of responses with AFOs were recorded for medium and

large magnitudes of movements of the platform in forward and backward

directions. In addition, increased strength scores were observed when

AFOs were used.

The results indicate that AFOs could contribute significantly to

postural control in individuals with peripheral neuropathy by

providing auxiliary sensory cues to intact tissues of the lower

extremities.

These results have clinical implications that primarily aid in the

understanding of how individuals with peripheral neuropathy benefit

from the use of AFOs for postural stability.