2016-2017 Faculty Research Grant
Caryn Pierce (Physical Therapy)
The Effect of Controlled Ankle Motion (CAM) Boot Shank Angle on Standing Posture and Temporospatial Gait Parameters
Will the anteriorly inclined shank angle identified as ideal for neurologically impaired patients standing and walking in Ankle Foot Orthoses (AFOs) improve posture and gait for orthopedic patients whose ankles are immobilized in Controlled Ankle Motion (CAM) boots? This is the question this study aims to answer.
The repeated measures design allows researchers to use subjects as their own controls across three boot conditions: no boot, standard CAM boot with vertical shank angle, and modified CAM boot with shank angle anteriorly inclined 12°. Posture variables of hip flexion and knee extension as well as a number of gait variables such as velocity and percentage of time in the gait cycle spent on each foot will be measured using simple goniometry and the GAITRite temporospatial analysis system. A One-way repeated measures ANOVA will be used to analyze differences within subjects across the three conditions.