Purpose: To find out the effectiveness of Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO) over knee Ankle Foot Orthosis (KAFO) in spastic lower limbs with crouch gait.

Methodology: Thirty spastic cerebral palsy children (17 male & 13 female)under the age group of 10-15 years with crouch gait were selected for this study.). Firstly, KAFO was given to all children in the morning ( first session) and. the total distance covered at a single time and cadence was assessed for 3 consecutive days and average reading is documented. Then subjects are given AFO in the evening (second session) followed by the assessment on total distance covered at a single time and the cadence. The reading is taken for 3 consecutive days and average reading is documented. In both type of orthosis hinged ankle is used.

Results: The result shows that both the total distance covered at single time and cadence are more in AFO than in KAFO.

Discussion and Conclusions: In using AFO the child moves with easy foot clearance, minimal weight of orthosis makes the child walk more distance with less energy expenditure. In using KAFO the child has to struggle for foot clearance due to stiff knee gait, increased weight of orthosis and decreased balance due to the inefficiency of hip extensors. To prevent the contracture and deformity regular exercises and stretching is performed. The study can be concluded that the independency and the comfort is more in using AFO in patients with spastic lower limbs and crouch gait.

Childhood Disablity Update 2005 - Conference Abstracts.Pediatric Oncall [serial online] 2006 [cited 15 January 2006(Supplement 1)];3. Available from:
http://www.pediatriconcall.com/fordoctor/Conference_abstracts/
knee_Ankle_Foot_Orthosis.asp