Experimental comparisons of passive and powered ankle-foot orthoses in individuals with limb reconstruction

Background Ankle-foot orthoses (AFO) are commonly prescribed to provide functional assistance for patients with lower limb injuries or weakness. Their passive mechanical elements can provide some energy return to improve walking ability, but cannot restore plantar flexor push-off. Powered AFOs provide an assistive torque about the ankle to address the limitations of passive devices, but current designs have yet to be implemented on a large scale clinically. Purpose: To compare passive AFOs to a new untethered, powered AFO design in a clinical population with lower limb reconstruction.