I am an engineering student working on a design for an improved
double-action Ankle Foot Orthotic for stroke/hemiplegic gait patients.
This project is being studied from a variety of different aspects:
medical, manufacturing, and mechanical. One design aspect which we have
considered was developing an AFO joint which would allow some
in/eversion and ab/adduction. We were wondering if by allowing this
movement, we would be destabilizing the ankle joint, and causing adverse
effects.
Another idea was to develop an AFO ankle joint which was ‘self-aligning.’
There are several designs which do this in a free range of motion joint.
We were wondering how difficult it is to align the ankle joints during the
construction of an AFO, and if this feature would be worth pursuing.
I thank you for your help and look forward to hearing from you.
With much Appreciation,
Edward Ferara
