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ABSTRACT
Tampereen ammattikorkeakoulu
Tampere University of Applied Sciences
Degree Programme in Physiotherapy
HIETALA, SANNA & SIPILÄ, MAIJA: The Effects of Ankle-foot Orthosis in Gait -
Gait Analysis with Dartfish-software and Sidas-Plantar Pressure Plate
Bachelor´s thesis 72 pages, appendices 11 pages
August 2011
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The thesis addresses the immediate effects of ankle-foot orthosis in different
areas of gait. The objective of this thesis was to gather information for the
employer about the suitability of the Dartfish motion analysis software as a tool
in physiotherapeutic analysis. Another objective was to gather more information
about the immediate effects of ankle-foot orthoses on gait. The purpose of this
thesis was to find out how ankle-foot orthoses affect the gait of people with
peroneal nerve problems.
This study was carried out as a case study consisting with two participants and
it analysed the effects of ankle-foot orthoses in different phases of gait. The
data were collected by filming the clients´ gaits with and without ankle-foot
orthoses. The data were analysed using qualitative content analysis and by
using motion - and plantar pressure analysing softwares.
The study showed that ankle-foot orthoses affect initial contact, pre-swing and
mid-stance during gait. However, the results are conditional on the birth
mechanisms of the peroneal nerve injuries and on the effects the injuries have
on gait. The effects of the ankle-foot orthoses were seen, especially, in the
qualitative content analysis, even though all the positive changes were not seen
in numeral results.
The findings indicate that the ankle-foot orthoses balance out the pressure in
different areas of the foot during stance. According to the study, Dartfishsoftware
is well-suited for physiotherapeuticic analysis, because it offers various
tools that facilitate visual analysis.
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Key phrases: gait analysis, ankle-foot orthosis, peroneal injuries, Dartfish
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