Table 4.
Ref. | Actuation (Pf/Df) | Control | weight PAFO | Subjects | Training and comparisons | Walking Speed | Ul / Bl | Portable | Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bharadwaj, 2005 [61] | SOM (Pf + Df), passive inv + ev | P-Bc | / | 1 H | / | fixed gait time | Ul | / | lower RoM than in N |
Hwang, 2006 [57] | SEA (Pf + Df) | P-Bc: Pf assist during LR and PO, Df assist during MSt and swing | 2.8 kg | 5 H | N-A-P | / | Ul | no | AFO leads to inefficient walking; in P ↑ PO torque |
Kim, 2007 [59] | SEA (Pf + Df) | P-Bc: Pf assist during LR and PO, Df assist during MSt and swing | 2.8 kg | 1 Hem | Training: 4 weeks; Test: 30 min + N-A-P | / | Ul | no | ↑ walking speed and cadence; ↓ asymmetry; prevented foot drop; ↑ Df RoM; improved Pf in PO |
Kim, 2011 [58] | SEA (Pf + Df) | P-Bc: Pf assist during LR and PO, Df assist during MSt and swing | 2.8 kg | 3 Hem | Training: 4 weeks; Test: 30 min + N-A-P | / | Ul | no | ↑ walking speed and cadence; ↓ asymmetry; prevented foot drop; ↑ Df RoM; improved Pf in PO |
Ward, 2007 [62] | SOM (Pf + Df), passive inv + ev | P-Bc | / | 1 Str | Training: 8 weeks; Pre-, mid- and post-tests: N | Self-selected | Ul | / | improved kinematics; ↑ walking cadence; for some tests results in line with training without PAFO |
Ward, 2011 [60] | SEA (Pf) | P-Bc: assist PO | / | 3 Str | Training: 3 weeks; Pre- and post-test: N | Self-selected | Ul | no | ↑ cadence; ↑ RoM |
The type of actuator, the weight and portability of the device, the training and testing sessions and the main outcomes of each study are reported. In some studies, the devices were tested also on healthy users
Hem, Str: Hemiplegic and stroke patients; H: Healthy users; SEA: Series elastic actuator; SOM: Double-acting spring over muscle actuator; Pf, Df: Plantarflexion and dorsiflexion; inv, ev: Inversion and eversion; P-Bc: Phase-based controller; LR: Loading response; PO: Push-off; MSt: mid-stance; N, A, P: Normal walking, walking with conventional AFO, PAFO powered walking; Ul, Bl: Uni-/bi-lateral PAFO