Abstract
Purpose: For individuals with cerebrovascular accident (IwCVA), there is no outcome measure considered as the gold standard to justify ankle foot orthosis (AFO) use, fit, and function and that takes into consideration inherent properties of the AFO. Data is lacking indicating AFO effectiveness, which can be used to justify insurance reimbursement for the cost of more efficient mechanisms to produce person-centered AFOs using scanning and 3D printing technology, as is commonly done for individuals with lower extremity amputation requiring a prosthesis. Methods: This study surveyed physical therapists (PTs) via electronic medium to inquire about their knowledge and use of AFO-specific outcome measures (OMs). Results: Of the 124 survey respondents with complete data, only 13 were familiar with any of the following OMs: Orthotic Comfort Score (OCS) (n=1), Orthotics and Prosthetics Users’ Survey© (OPUS©) (n=9), Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (QUEST 2.0) (n=8), Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS) (n=1). Of those 13, only five PTs used OMs: four used the OPUS© and one used the QUEST 2.0 for AFO assessment with IwCVA. Conclusion: This preliminary study indicates that few PTs are aware of and using AFO-specific OMs that address use, fit, function and inherent properties of the AFO for IwCVA. The most common OMs used assessed functional mobility only at the activity level. Findings suggest a need to develop a comprehensive AFO-specific OM that can be used for multiple neurologic diagnoses to address issues at both the body structure/function and activity level.
Recommended Citation
Brown JV, Suhr J. Quantifying AFO Use, Fit, and Function Via Outcome Measures by Physical Therapists. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice. 2025 Apr 15;23(2), Article 12.
