| Summary: | [Purpose] The aim of the present study was to analyze the effect of an ankle-foot
orthosis on gait variables (velocity and cadence) of stroke patients. To do this, a
systematic review was conducted of four databases. [Subjects and Methods] The papers
identified were evaluated based on the following inclusion criteria: 1) design:
controlled, clinical trial; 2) population: stroke patients; 3) intervention: analysis of
spatiotemporal variables of gait with an ankle-foot orthosis; 4) control group with
different intervention or no intervention; and 5) outcome: improvement in gait velocity or
cadence. [Results] Thirteen controlled trials addressing the effect of an ankle-foot
orthosis on gait variables of stroke patients were found. They exhibited methodological
quality of 3 or more points on the PEDro scale. [Conclusion] While the findings suggest
the benefits of an AFO regarding gait velocity, the impact of this type of orthosis on
cadence remains inconclusive. Thus, there is a need for further well-designed randomized,
controlled, clinical trials to establish better scientific evidence for the effects of AFO
usage on gait variables of stroke patients.
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