A new opportunity to improve gait in patient's with cerebral palsy
NEED
The efficacy of current AFOs is limited by restricted ankle movement and low variability in rotation. This biomedical problem introduces the need for a dynamic, less restrictive AFO that mitigates kinesthetic deficits and facilitates development of normal gait cycle in children with CP and/or children with extreme plantar flexion.
SCOPE
Courtney Dunn, PT, physical therapist who works primarily with children with CP at the Neurofibromatosis Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, has requested the design of an AFO that can deliver proper dorsiflexion and proper plantar flexion in a single device.
Overall, the aim of this project is to design and prototype an AFO that will be dynamic and less restrictive while still maintaining necessary support to ensure proper joint development. The most important elements of this improved design include active support of the foot during take-off, an increased range of motion, and minimal weight surplus relative to current AFOs. Other design considerations for sustained user support include comfort, durability, ease of wear, physical attractiveness, and affordability. Our prototype will be a scale mock-up that allows for dynamicity of ankle movement throughout the user’s gait and fulfills the various other design specifications (discussed below), which will be delivered on the last day of senior design, April 1st, 2019.