Functional effect of an ankle foot orthosis on gait in multiple sclerosis: a pilot study

The objective was to determine whether an ankle foot orthosis improves gait velocity and tasks of functional ambulation in multiple sclerosis (MS). This cross-sectional study enrolled 15 participants with diagnosis of MS, dorsiflexion and eversion weakness, and more than 3 mos of using a physician-prescribed ankle foot orthosis (AFO). Subject ambulation was evaluated (1) without an AFO and (2) with an AFO. Outcome measures were the Timed 25-Foot (T25-FW) Walk portion of the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC) and the five trials (Floor, Carpet, Up and Go, Obstacles, Stairs) of the Modified Emory Functional Ambulation Profile (mEFAP). The mean timed differences on the T25-FW and the five components of the mEFAP between the AFO vs. no device trials were not statistically significant. In MS subjects with dorsiflexion and eversion weakness, no statistically significant improvement was found performing timed tasks of functional ambulation with an AFO.