Effects of Two Different Hip-Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthoses on Postural Stability in Subjects with Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Study

This study evaluates two types of leg braces (orthoses) that help people with spinal cord injuries (SCI) stand and walk: the medial linkage reciprocating gait orthosis (MLRGO) and the isocentric reciprocating gait orthosis (IRGO). The researchers looked at how stable people were while standing and walking with each brace, as well as how fast and far they could walk. The study found that both braces improved walking speed and endurance, but there were no significant differences between the two in terms of stability or fear of falling.

• 1
  Walking speed, cadence, and endurance increased with the use of both HKAFOs; the increase was slightly higher with the use of MLRGO than with the use of IRGO.
• 2
  There was no significant difference in the mFES scores (p=0.066) with the use of the two types of orthoses
• 3
  The use of IRGO limited postural sway compared with the use of MLRGO