Evidence at every step: Enhancing objectivity in clinical assessment of ankle-foot orthoses

Do you wonder if the ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) your clients wear have the intended effects? Or grapple with decisions about which AFO type and design will be most effective for a child?

While AFOs are prescribed for a range of gait and mobility impairments, one size does not fit all. Creating an optimal match between each individual child and the design of their orthosis presents an important clinical challenge. Many options exist, with limited evidence-based guidance available to support clinical decisions.

In this talk, we will:

• Discuss evidence and controversy surrounding AFO prescription for children with cerebral palsy and equinus
• Summarize the results of a quasi-experimental case series illustrating the individual effects of a common AFO prescription approach for children with equinus
• Outline evidence-informed clinical practises that clinicians can routinely apply to increase their objectivity, and improve outcomes when assessing the effects of AFOs on gait.