Effect of orthoses on patients' gait in case of lower limbs’ paresis

SUMMARY Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine Rehabilitation, Physical and Sports Medicine Department Physical Therapy Studies programme EFFECT OF ORTHOSES ON PATIENTS' GAIT IN CASE OF LOWER LIMBS’ PARESIS Bachelor's thesis of Physical Therapy Author: Jurgita Šlepikaitė 4th year student at Vilnius University Rehabilitation Physical Therapy Studies programme. Supervisor: Dainė Janonienė PhD, Vilnius University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Rehabilitation, Physical and Sports Medicine. Keywords: neurological disorders, paralysis, orthoses, gait. The aim of research work: Evaluate the Effect of Leg Orthoses on Patients’ with Neurological Disorders Gait with Paralysis Tasks of work: 1. Evaluate gait of patients with leg orthoses and without them. 2. Compare rates of patients gait parameters with leg orthoses and without them. 3. Assess relations between muscle strength and gait parameters. Materials and methods: 2017 February – April a clinical study was performed in the Vilnius University Hospital Santariškių Klinikos Centre of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2nd department. Study involved 22 patients with neurological disorders. To evaluate patients’ gait: Ten Meter Walk Test and Tinetti Gait Assesment Tool were measured. To assess step parameters step lengths with both legs and step width were measured. Data analysis was performed using Microsoft Office Excel 2016 and R Commander applications. Results: Statistically significant changes in the healthy leg step length and height, healthy swing foot passing affected stance foot with step, with knee and ankle orthoses or only with knee orthosis (p0.05) changes between step width, average walking speed, step symmetry, step continuity, path, trunk position and walking stance with leg orthoses or without them. Conclusions: 1. Statistically significant changes in step width, average walking speed, step symmetry, step continuity, path, trunk position and walking stance were not observed with leg orthoses and without them. 2. Statistically significant changes in healthy leg step length and height were observed with knee and ankle orthoses or only with knee orthosis. 3. Affected legs’ muscle strength had statistically significant moderate to strong correlations with average walking speed, both legs step length, step width and other gait parameters