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Functional Gait Training in AFO-FCs AM2021-OS07
2021 Annual Meeting Education Content
Keyword(s)
AM2021-OS07
Credit Information
2.0 Credits (Scientific)
Author(s)
Elaine Owen, MBE MSc SRP MCSP; Sam Walmsley; Anel Van der Merwe
Description
Ankle-foot orthoses and their associated footwear, the ankle-foot orthosis footwear combination (AFOFC) is used to achieve a range of goals within the ‘functioning and disability components’ of the International Classification of Disability and Health (ICF) and the ICF-CY for children and youth (WHO 2000 and 2007, Owen 2016, 2020). These components cover ‘body structures and functions’ and ‘activities and participation’. This organized session will review goals that may be set and how to achieve them using 'functional gait training with AFO-FCs'.
Functional Gait Training has been defined as ‘actively practicing the task of walking, to improve walking ability’ (Booth 2018). This is a broad definition, so this session will concentrate on obtaining the ability to walk and improving gait kinematics and kinetics, through functional gait training where the participant is active in achieving the walking. It will also review the associated benefits of improving quality of gait patterns. Overground gait training and treadmill training will be included, and there will be video and video vector pediatric and adult case examples, and a remote live hands-on demonstration including one from a video vector gait laboratory.
The opportunity that functional gait training provides for motor learning and the contribution of ‘task specific repetitive practice’ and ‘functional therapy’ to achievement of walking goals will be central themes of the session. The construction of AFO and Footwear designs that are often required for gait training, and the dosage to achieve goals will also be reviewed.