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Objective: By mentioning this fact that the athletes have to be multi-tasking in the field in spite of injury, it seems vital to investigate the attentional demands of walking in these subjects.

Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional and case-control study, sixteen functionally unstable ankle athletes and sixteen healthy matched athletes were selected conveniently. The three factors mixed, dual task study was conducted using Motion Analysis System. Stride time and length, step time, length and width, stance and swing time and also cadence were measured while subjects experiencing 2 walking task difficulties (speed: 2.1 and 3.6 Km/h barefoot walking on a treadmill) and 2 cognitive loadings (with and without backward counting). Data were analyzed by statistical tests such as: Chi-Square, 3-way mixed ANOVA and Independent T-test.

Results: 2×2×2 (2 groups, 2walking task difficulties and 2 cognitive loadings) mixed ANOVA showed significant group×condition interaction for stride length. Patients had significantly more increase in stride length without cognitive task than healthy subjects (P=0.03). Also the simple main effect of cadence was significant in the group with functional ankle instability (P=0.049).

Conclusion: It seems that FAI is associated with increased attentional demands to dynamic postural control (Walking). Cognitive loading may be considered in any exercise program for FAI patients as an effective strategy.

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Objective: Dynamic neoprene orthosis were assessed in one child with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy using gait analysis.

Materials & Methods: After fitting of the neoprene legging, and initial assessment (with orthosis and without orthosis), there was a period of 6 weeks that child wearing the legging for at least 5 h everyday, and followed which she was re-assessed.

Results: Difference of means of variables in immediate effect of neoperen orthosis showed decrese more of 5 degree in mean of maximum and minimum of knee flexion, decrese of ROM of hip joint and increase of cadence whith orthosis. After 6 weeks wearing orthosis, maximum knee flexion, hip and knee joint ROM decresed and cadence incresed without orthosis and in a cycle of gait.

Conclusion: Dynamic neoprene orthosis appear to provide an improved base of support for functional gains in balance, dynamic stability, general and specific movement control with improved postural and muscle readiness. Both deep sensory and subtle biomechanical factors may account for changes observed. This orthosis developed for a specific child and expected that mechanism of orthosis could be effective in children with type of cerebral palsy.

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Objective: In this study, using nonlinear dynamics methods, dynamic stability index was used to assess the effect of perturbation training on anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficient patients.

Materials & Methods: Non-randomized sampling was employed to recruit male athletes with at least 6 months elapsed after their ACL lesion. Using tilt boards, 10 sessions of perturbation training were done. Lower limb kinematics were recorded using electrogoniometers during walking before and after the training. Knee kinematic data of 60 gait cycles was used to calculate dynamic stability index. Time series were reconstructed in five dimensions then finite-time lyapunov exponent was calculated for seven subjects before and after training. Wilcoxon nonparametric test was used to assess the impact of training.

Results: The value of the dynamic stability index before and after training was computed as and , respectively. Statistical analysis showed that dynamic stability index of gait improved significantly in ACL deficient patients after perturbation training (P=0.016).

Conclusion: Perturbation training improved the dynamic stability of ACL deficient patients. Therefore using nonlinear dynamics methods one can establish an effective theoretical basis for designing and assessment of specific ACL rehabilitation. Such methods could be used in functional assessment of other interventions that affects body movement such as gait.

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Objective: In this research the effect of perturbation training on correlation index of detrended fluctuation analysis index (&alpha) of anterior cruciate ligament deficient (ACL) patients was evaluated using nonlinear dynamic methods.

Materials & Methods: The study was done on ten male athletes with at least 6 months elapse after their ACL lesions. Subjects were selected using non-probability sampling technique. Stride time for about 270 gait cycles for each patient was recorded and used for detrended fluctuation analysis.

Results: Analysis showed difference in values of &alpha between primary and shuffled data which indicates a non-trivial trend of data structure. According to the range of &alpha (0.5>&alpha>1), long time correlation between gait cycles was found. Also, the results showed no significant difference on &alpha before and after training (P=0.515).

Conclusion: The results showed persistent patterns in time series which are similar to slow/ speed walking patterns. Also, it can be concluded that, according to their correlation values, ACL deficient patients had a similar behavior to healthy people.

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Objective: The aim of this study was the comparison of plantar pressure distribution and vertical ground reaction force between dominant and none-dominant limbs in healthy through using Principle Component Analysis (PCA) technique.

Materials & Methods: This study was quasi-experimental in which 20 healthy adult males and females were selected from available subjects. Subject’s plantar pressure distribution and vertical ground reaction force measured using the Pedar-X system. The obtained data were analyzed by Paired-t test, one way analyze of variance, Pearson coefficient correlation and PCA.

Results: ANOVA and Paired-t test did not show any significance difference between males and females and dominant and non-dominant limb pressure pattern, (P>0.05). PCA recognized pressure and force applied on the heel, fingers, big toe and first metatarsal regions for the dominant limb and lateral mid foot, lateral fore foot, first metatarsal and heel regions for non-dominant limb, as important parameters.

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that, dominant limb is responsible for propulsion and weight acceptance and non-dominant limb is responsible for balance control. Therefore during biomechanical evaluation of feet, difference between function of dominant and non-dominant limb must be considered.

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Objective: In recent years, it has been focused much attention on gait analysis. Factors such as speed, age and gender affect gait parameters. The purpose of the present study was to compare the electromyographic activity pattern of knee two-joint muscles between younger and older subjects in different gait speeds.

Matterials & Methods: The method of current study was analytical cross-sectional method in which 15 healthy young men and 15 old men, were selected conveniently. Electromyographic activity of rectus femoris, biceps femoris, semitendinus and gastrocenemius were recorded during walking with preferred (100%), slow (80%) and fast (120%) speeds in a 10 meter walkway. Normalized RMSs of muscles were compared using RM-ANOVA and Tokey’s tests by SPSS 18 software.

Results: According to results, RMSs of rectus femoris in midstance (P<0.01) and gastrocenemius in loading response (P=0.02) phases in all walking speeds were higher in older subjects than in younger ones, and it increased with speed in both age groups (P<0.01). Biceps femoris RMS in terminal stance at 80% speed, was lower in older subjects than in younger ones (P=0.01) and it increased with walking speed (P=0.01). Semitendinus activity in loading and midstance phases at 120% speed was higher in older subjects than in younger ones (P<0.01), and it increased with speed in both age groups in swing phase (P<0.05).

Conclusion: According to the results, older subjects have more muscle co-contraction around knee at high speed in midstance phase than younger subjects. These age-related changes in muscle activity, leads to increase in joint stiffness and stability during single support, and probably play a role in reducing push off power at faster speeds.

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Objective Weight-bearing asymmetry is one of the main causes of balance disturbances in patients with hemiparesis and could cause standing problems and gait abnormalities for them. The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of wearing unilateral textured insoles on the symmetry of weight bearing during standing and gait parameters of patients with chronic stroke.
Materials & Methods In this quasi-experimental study, 16 patients with hemiparesis were selected by simple non-probability sampling method. These patients had an average age(SD) of 52.12(6.94) years and their average(SD) post-injury duration was 33.12(16.4) months. Symmetry index during standing position (by using 2 equal weighting scales), step length symmetry, step length, and walking velocity (by using NeuroCom Balance Master Device) was measured in 3 conditions: without insole (barefoot), wearing textured insole with shore A-80 hardness, and textured insole with shore A-60 hardness.
Results In this study, we conducted the multivariate analysis of variance for comparing 3 test conditions and Bonferroni test for paired comparing. The symmetry of step length showed a significant difference between no insole condition and using insole with A-80 hardness (P=0.004), as well as using A-80 hardness insole with A-60 hardness insole (P=0.011). However, there was no significant difference between using no insole and using insole with A-60 hardness (P=0.325). The results of symmetry index likened
the step length results. This means that there was a significant difference between not using insole and wearing insole with A-80 hardness (P=0.022), also between the results of wearing 2 different insoles (P=0.019). However, no significant difference was observed between using no insole and using insole with A-60 hardness in spite of improvement in step length (P=0.325). Velocity of walking and step length was not meaningfully improved in any of the conditions.
Conclusion The current study showed that obligatory use of affected limb side could improve symmetry of weight bearing in walking and standing position of patients with chronic stroke by overcoming the phenomenon of learned lack of using and correcting the failure of sending sensory signals to centers of movement controls. The results of this study showed that unilateral use of textured insole with shore A-80 in the unaffected side could immediately improve weight bearing symmetry and step length symmetry in patients with hemiparesis, but it has no effect on their walking speed and step length. Using insole with A-60 hardness did not significantly change any variables of tests. Considering the results of this study, these insoles can be used in balance exercises and walking of hemiparetic patients.

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Objective Foot ulcer is one of the main challenges of diabetic patients influencing their abilities to stand and walk. Various methods have been suggested to decrease the loads applied to the foot in this group of patients; most methods were not deemed successful and could only be used temporarily. Rocker shoes are recommended for foot ulcer treatment. Based on the available literature, it is still controversial whether or not the forces applied to the foot differ between diabetic and normal subjects.  Moreover, it is not well understood which kind of rocker (heel or toe rocker) is more successful in decreasing the applied forces to the foot. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the loads applied on the foot in diabetic subjects and normal subjects and to determine the influence of rockers on the load of foot. The main hypothesis associated with this study was that heel and toe rockers had similar effects on the force applied on the foot in diabetic subjects. 
Materials & Methods In this interventional, and quasi-experimental study, 20 healthy and 20 diabetic subjects were recruited. The sample size was determined based on the average number of the subjects in the previous similar studies. The diabetic subjects were selected from the patients referred to foot clinics in Rehabilitation School of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. A qualysis motion analysis system with a Kistler force plate (50×60 cm) was used to record the temporal-spatial gait parameters and forces applied on the leg during walking. The subjects were asked to walk with a comfortable speed along a level surface in a gait lab.  The parameters such as temporal-spatial gait parameters, peaks of ground reaction forces, and force-time integral were used for analysis. The difference between the mean values of the parameters and between the subjects’ effects were evaluated by use analysis of variance with repeated measures test. The statistical analysis was done by SPSS17 and with significant level of 0.05.
Results There was a significant difference between normal and diabetic foot subjects regarding cadence, stride length, and percentage of stance phase (P < 0.05). Although the walking speed of diabetic subjects was less than that of normal subjects, the difference was not significant (P > 0.06). There was a significant difference between the peak of the forces (anteroposterior [fy1, fy2], medio lateral [fx], and vertical [fz1, fz2, fz3]) applied on the leg in normal and diabetic foot. The type of rocker did not affect the spatiotemporal gait parameters (P < 0.05), while exhibited significant effect on the peak anteroposterior forces applied to the leg (P < 0.04). The mean value of the force-time integral of vertical component of ground reaction force varied based on the side and group (P < 0.04).
Conclusion The results of this study showed that the force-time integral of vertical component of the ground reaction force increased significantly in subjects with diabetes, which is the main cause of foot ulcers. Although, heel and toe rockers did not influence the force applied to the foot or the force-time integral, it is recommended to use rocker shoes with wide base of support to increase the dynamic stability while decreasing the foot pressure. The main limitation is that the immediate effect of use of rocker was studies in this study . It is recommended to check the effect of rockers interventions after a certain period of their use.

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Objective Hemipelvectomy amputation is a surgical procedure in which the lower limb and a portion of pelvic are removed. There are a few studies on the performance of this group of patients while walking. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effect of hemipelvectomy amputation on kinematics and muscle force generation of the lower limb while walking with Canadian prosthesis.
Materials & Methods A subject who underwent hemipelvectomy amputation on his left side and whose mass, height, and age were 75 kg, 1.75 m, and 39 years, respectively, was involved in this study. Qualisys motion analysis system with seven cameras and force-plate system were used to record marker tracking and ground reaction forces. Twenty reflective markers were attached to the subject’s body. As the subject walked , the data was recorded. The mean of five trials was used for statistical computing. The data was collected with the frequency of 120 Hz and filtered with 10 Hz low-pass filter. Muscloskeletal modeling was conducted by Visual 3D and OpenSim software. All data were analyzed using the SPSS 19 software at α=0.05.
Results There were significant differences between knee and ankle joint kinematic pattern at Loading, Mid-stance, Terminal stance, and Pre-swing phases of gait (P<0.05). 
In weight acceptance phase and mid-stance phase, ankle plantar flexion and dorsi-flexion range of motion, respectively, were significantly lower in the patient compared to a healthy subject (P=0.00). At the end of the stance phase, ankle range of motion was significantly different in the patient compared to the healthy subject (P=0.00). In the pre-swing phase, ankle plantar flexion was 11.5 degrees greater than that of the healthy subject. In mid-swing phase, patients showed more ankle dorsi-flexion compared to the healthy subject. In weight acceptance phase, knee flexion of patient (P=0.00) was significantly greater than that of the healthy subject, and in mid-stance phase, knee extension of patient was significantly greater (P=0.04). In pre-swing phase (P=0.00) and initial swing (P=0.02), there were significant differences between knee flexion of patients and healthy subjects. The pattern of hip range of motion during gait cycle was the same for the patient and the healthy subject (P>0.05). Force generation of the hip abductor, hip extensor, and knee extensor along with tibialis anterior and posterior of the patients in the sound leg were significantly more than that of the normal subject (P<0.05).
Conclusion The kinematics pattern of the patient’s lower limb during gait is different. Kinematic changes are associated with a significant increase in lower limb muscle generation that can have a degenerative effect on the knee joint. So the importance of this subject should be considered by rehabilitation experts.

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Objective Stroke occurs when the supply of blood to the brain is either interrupted or reduced. The clinical presentation varies from minor neurological symptoms to severe deficits, depending on the location and the size of the brain lesion. Hemiparesis is one of the most striking features in the acute phase. Many other deficits may also be present, including postural imbalance. All persistent neurological deficits may cause more or less severe activity limitations in several domains of human functioning. Regaining walking ability is a major goal during the rehabilitation of stroke patients. Therefore, using orthoses can be beneficial for them. Ankle-Foot Orthoses (AFOs) is one of the most common therapeutic approaches to control foot drop among stroke patients. AFOs prevent drooping or other unintended movements of the foot and ankle by providing stability in optimum conditions. It also helps in regaining normal walking posture in stroke patients. The aim of this review was to evaluate the efficiency of the AFOs on balance and examine the effectiveness of temporal spatial and kinetic gait kinematics in stroke patients with foot drop.
Materials & Methods Science Direct, Springer, Google Scholar, PubMed, Ovid databases were searched for articles published between 1996 and 2016 of studies on patients with drop foot wearing the AFOs. After reviewing and categorizing the articles, they were analyzed based on spatiotemporal parameters, gait kinetics, gait kinematics and stability. A total of 21 articles were selected for final evaluation.
Results Twenty-one articles were analyzed in relation to the effect of the AFOs on gait parameters in stroke patients. Spatiotemporal parameters were evaluated in 14 articles, and kinetics and kinematics parameters were analyzed in seven articles. AFOs have a significant impact on the length and width of the steps but had no significant effect on speed, cadence, symmetry of gait and balance. Also, AFOs improved kinetic parameters of gait, ankle kinematics and kinematics of the knee in the static phase but had no significant effect on knee joint kinematics and kinematics of the hip joint in the frontal and sagittal. There are a few studies with regard to the effects of AFOs on the moment of inertia and joints power, but the results of the present study showed no significant difference in these parameters.
Conclusion This study showed that the AFOs based on the models (static or dynamic) had a paradoxical effect on balance, kinetic and kinematic parameters of gait in the stroke patients. AFOs had a significant improvement in balance, kinetic and kinematic parameters of gait compared to those without orthosis situation in the stroke patients. According to the result of this study, depending on the patient's needs and situation, the best and the most suitable ankle foot orthoses should be designed and custom molded for them.

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Objective Some individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability (CAI) termed as functional ankle instability (FAI) suffer from repetitive ankle giving way and feeling of ankle joint instability during dynamic activities like walking. Walking, as a postural task, requires some central attention to integrate sensory inputs, estimate, and plan and produce proper motor outputs. Attention demanding cognitive task has the ability to influence walking control and may increase the risk of giving way and ankle sprain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of dual-tasking on dynamic balance in people with FAI.
Materials & Methods Twelve physically active with clinically diagnosed FAI and 12 matched controls completed trials of normal walking in isolation or with a concurrent cognitive task, which is repeatedly subtracting seven from a randomly selected number (between 200 and 250) and the same cognitive task while sitting. Spatiotemporal parameters (measured by a seven-camera motion capture system) were calculated by visual3D during gait cycles. Gait velocity, step time, step length, stance time, and swing time were calculated. Independent t-test was used to compare the data for FAI and control groups, and comparisons between the single and dual task conditions were made using the paired t-test. Step time variability was calculated using Intraclass Correlation (ICC).
Results The results indicated that step velocity was decreased and that stance, swing, and step time were increased significantly during dual task walking in FAI people (P<0.05). FAI people demonstrated greater step time variability during single and dual tasks compared to the control group. 
Conclusion The athletes with FAI demonstrated different movement strategies during the dual-task condition compared to control group. Cognitive load may increase the risk of ankle instability in individuals with FAI. 

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Objective Spinal cord injury is a major problem for all communities that affect personal and social aspects of the patient’s life. The most common issues that spinal cord injury patients face are paralysis, muscle atrophy, pain, and spasticity. The ability to walk also may be disrupted or lost in many of the patients with spinal cord injury. Most common approaches to rehabilitation for patients with spinal cord injury are the emphasis on healthy neuromuscular sections to promote these sectors and compensate existing defects. But recent studies have reported that the neuromuscular system is capable of plasticity and after spinal cord injury is necessary to pay attention to health and impaired neuromuscular parts of the body. Gait training is one of the rehabilitation approaches that is trying to recruit impaired neuromuscular parts and improve them. This rehabilitation is performed in different ways. In this study, the effect of body weight supported treadmill training on balance and quality of life in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury was evaluated.
Materials & Methods This is a quasi-experimental study. Patients with incomplete spinal cord injury (n=15) aged 26 and 48 years with a chronic (>1 year post-injury), grade D=4 and C=11 (according to American spinal cord injury association scale [ASIA]) voluntarily participated in this study. Sampling was conducted from hospitals and spinal cord injury rehabilitation centers of Tehran. For intervention, the patient was in the body weight support system. Patients’ weight supported and suspended with harnesses and lifter of the body weight support system to the extent that knees were not bent in stance phase and fingers can’t be dragged into swing phase. Treadmill speed and amount of weight support adjusted depending on the patient’s conditions. Intervention applied for eight weeks and three sessions a week. Each session lasted 30 minutes. Outcome measures were Berg balance scale and SF-36 questioner. The quality of life evaluated before and after the intervention. Berg balance scale was evaluated at baseline and every two weeks throughout the intervention. The results were compared with each assessment. Repeated measure ANOVA test used for analysis of the scores of Berg balance scale and SF-36, paired t-test used.
Results The evaluation results indicated that the scores of Berg balance scale, increased significantly compared to the previous stage in each reevaluation. Between the various stages of evaluation, the maximum difference was between the second and third stages (P=0.008) that were after two and four weeks after the first session respectively. The score of SF-36 showed no significant difference. Between 8 items that measured in SF-36 questioner, just score of »emotional roll functioning « increased significantly (P=0.006).
Conclusion According to achieved results, eight weeks body weight supported treadmill training can improve the balance of the patients with spinal cord injury. It was observed that the gait training with stimulation and use of proprioceptors and increase of patient’s confidence in walking and standing positions improve the patient’s balance. The patients were also able to control the internal and external perturbations and maintain the better balance. But eight weeks gait training had no significant effect on the quality of life in patients with spinal cord injury which suggest that more extended rehabilitation is required.

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Objective Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory, demyelinating, and neurodegenerative disorder of the Central Nervous System (CNS) and it is also the most common cause of non-traumatic neurological disability in young adults. MS in women, especially young women, is about 1.5 to 3 times more common than men all over the world. About 2.5 million people worldwide are suffering from MS. The destruction of myelin in certain areas exhibits certain signs and symptoms. Balance disorders are particularly problematic because they are associated with difficulty in moving from one position to another, sustaining an upright posture, and performing functional activities such as walking and turning, all of which predisposes people with MS to the loss of equilibrium and falls. Isfahan City in Iran suffers from a high prevalence of MS that put it amongst the regions with the highest prevalence of MS in Asia and Oceania. This study aimed to use the holistic approaches of occupational therapy to investigate the physical and cognitive factors (attention, cognition and muscle strength of lower extremities) that affect the gait of MS patients in the city of Isfahan, Iran.
Materials & Methods The present study was a descriptive-correlational one and convenience sampling method was used to recruit the samples. The study population consisted of all patients with MS in Isfahan City in August 2017. A group of 70 patients (24 males and 46 females with the Mean±SD age of 32.20±7.55 y) met the inclusion-exclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study. To be eligible for the study, the patients had to meet the following inclusion criteria: having a neurologist-confirmed diagnosis of MS with MRI scan, being able to read and write, and walk at least 100 m independently. We excluded patients with cognitive impairments that might hinder understanding of the tasks to be accomplished, those with any comorbid neurologic condition other than MS, and those who are unwilling to collaborate with the research process. After providing sufficient information about the research process and getting informed consent of the patients, the questionnaires and tests were provided to the participants to be completed. The study tools were the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE), 10 m Walking Test (10 MWT), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), Sit to Stand test, and Stroop test. For data analysis, the Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis were performed in SPSS version 16.
Results In this study, 70 patients suffering from MS participated. The results showed a significant negative correlation between the scores of walking speed test (10 m walking) and the scores of the functional strength of the lower extremities muscles (P<0.001) and attention (P=0.01). There is also a significant correlation between muscle strength of lower extremity and balance (P=0.01). Regression analysis shows that the muscle strength of lower extremities has the highest contributions in predicting the speed of walking in patients with MS. 
Conclusion According to the study findings, among the physical and cognitive factors affecting gait and balance such as muscle strength of lower extremity or cognition and attention, the muscle strength of lower extremity is the most important factor affecting the balance and speed of walking in patients with MS that still can walk. In the process of rehabilitation, especially in occupational therapy, special attention must be paid to a muscle strengthening program for the lower extremities of patients suffering from MS. 

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Objective: This study aimed to design a “gait enhancer” and investigate its effect on standing ability and gait speed of children with cerebral palsy spastic diplegia.
Materials & Methods: A new gate trainer was designed based on Theo Johnson mechanism. Johnson's two separate movement chains were placed on either side of the gate trainer body and attached to the lower limbs by a foot plate. To investigate the effect of the designed device, a single-item experimental study with baseline design, treatment and maintenance (ABA) was performed on four children with available spastic diplegia cerebral palsy. These children received routine occupational therapy sessions.
Results: The designed “gait enhancer” increased standing ability and gait speed scores in all subjects. Non-overlapping measures also indicated the improvement in both variables. Measured by Cohen’s d, the effect size for standing ability were 1.95, 2.29, 1.83, and 2.3 for the child No. 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Regarding walking speed, the effect size for these children, No. 1 to 4, were 1.13, 3.37, 2.15, and 2.21, respectively. Cohen’s d values were greater than 0.8, indicating the considerable effect of the intervention. Hedges’ g was also calculated due to the small sample size, which was greater than 0.8 for all subjects in standing ability and gait speed.
Conclusion: Following the use of Gait Enhancer along with conventional occupational therapy, we observed an increase in the ability to stand and walk at children with cerebral palsy. Findings showed that the change in standing ability and walking speed occurred more during the period of using the designed device than other stages, which could be a consequence of using Gait Enhancer along with routine occupational therapy sessions at this stage of the study. However, it should be noted that this study was only a single case study and to prove the effectiveness of this tool in children with cerebral palsy, it is necessary to conduct clinical trial studies.

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Objective Knee osteoarthritis is a common, progressive, and chronic disease that affects approximately 13% of the population over the age of 60. Osteoarthritis causes progressive disability and changes in gait parameters, decreased function and quality of life of patients by causing malalignment of the knee in the frontal plane following destruction of articular cartilage. Braces as a mechanical intervention are a successful treatment for osteoarthritis knee and its associated malalignment. Using a three-point pressure mechanism, braces create a natural alignment in the knee by straps attached to the thigh and shank shells, which reduce the medial knee load and correct the varus alignment. This distributes the force properly while walking. However, applying a constant force on three pressure points of the leg, thigh and affected knee joint reduces the adduction angle of the knee in all phases of gait cycle , while the correction of the adduction angle of the knee in patients is essential only in phases between 30% to 60% of the stance phase, when the knee deviation reaches its peak. The aim of this study is to design and fabricate a brace joint with a new intermittent correction mechanism for patients with osteoarthritis medial compartment knee and to investigate its effect on a patient's gait parameters.
Materials & Methods The new joint design of the knee brace was based on the conversion of the knee extension movement at the end of the swing on the sagittal plane to the abduction movement on the frontal plate by stretching the converter piece. Participant gait was assessed in two ways with and without braces. Kinematic variables including knee joint angles in the sagittal and frontal planes and spatio-temporal variables of patient gait were measured and recorded.
Results The results of the new brace joint function on the knee showed that the angle of flexion of the knee in the swing phase increased from 44.72° to 46.19° when using brace. Also, knee adduction angle in the stance phase decreased from 4.25° to 2.3° and patient's walking speed while wearing the brace increased from 0.88 m/s to 0.93 m/s. On the other hand, step length increased from 1.125 m to 1.451 m when using brace and the percentage of stance phase decreased from 63.53 to 62.68 when using brace.
Conclusion In this one-sample study, a knee brace with a new joint was able to help correct the direction of knee joint in the frontal and sagittal plane and affect the patient's gait parameters. It seems that if the same results are obtained in a large-scale clinical study, this brace could be a suitable replacement for invasive methods and inappropriate orthoses.

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