The Claim
In individuals with bilateral plantarflexor weakness, the ankle-foot orthosis stiffness that minimizes walking energy cost is consistently greater than the stiffness required to normalize ankle dorsiflexion and knee flexion angles during gait.
What the research says
Not yet evaluated
We are still looking at what the research says.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
For people with weakness in the calf muscles, the stiffness setting on their ankle-foot orthosis that saves the most energy while walking is higher than the setting needed to make their ankle and knee movements look normal.
See the scientific wording
The optimal AFO stiffness for minimizing walking energy cost in individuals with bilateral plantarflexor weakness is consistently higher than the stiffness required to normalize joint kinematics such as ankle dorsiflexion or knee flexion angles.
When calf muscles are weak, the ankle collapses inward during walking, making it hard to push off the ground and keep the knee straight. A stiffer brace stores energy when the foot lifts up and releases it when pushing off, acting like a spring that replaces the missing muscle power. This extra push straightens the knee and reduces the need for the hip to work harder, which saves energy. The more severe the weakness, the stiffer the brace needs to be to provide enough force to move the body forward efficiently.
What the research says
1 studyThis study found that to walk with less effort, people with weak calf muscles need stiffer leg braces than what’s needed just to make their walking look normal. Saving energy requires more support than just fixing how the leg moves.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.