Assessing wear time and perceptions of wearing an ankle foot orthosis in patients with peripheral artery disease

Authors

Danae Dinkel, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow
Mahdi Hassan, University of Nebraska at Omaha
John RechFollow
Holly DeSpiegelaere, Omaha and Western Iowa Veterans Affairs Medical CenterFollow
Jason Johanning, University of Nebraska Medical CenterFollow
Iraklis Pipinos, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow
Sara A. Myers, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow

Author ORCID Identifier

Myers - https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2934-2624

Dinkel – https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0262-4429

Pipinos - https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6873-6346

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-30-2022

Abstract

Background

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a cardiovascular disease that affects walking ability. An ankle foot orthosis (AFO) may improve walking distances in those with PAD. Little research has explored if those with PAD wear a prescribed AFO and their perceptions of wearing the device.

Objective

To assess wear time of an AFO and explore perceptions of wearing the device in patients with PAD.

Design

Convergent mixed methods.

Setting

The study was conducted through a tertiary care medical center, and the research participants used the device in the community.

Participants

Thirty-six patients, all older adult males, were enrolled in this study. Fourteen patients completed the study and 11 supplied sufficient accelerometer data to include in the analysis.

Interventions

An AFO was worn for 3 months. An accelerometer was placed on the AFO for 7 days at the midpoint (1.5 months) and endpoint of the intervention (3 months) to assess wear time. Semi-structured interviews explored patients' perceptions of wearing the AFO.

Main Outcome Measure

The primary outcome measure was wear time measured objectively via accelerometer and subjectively via interview.

Results

Patients (n = 14) wore the AFO approximately 8 hours/day. Patients reported barriers such as challenges wearing the AFO during daily household activities (using stairs, being on uneven terrain), discomfort, clothing or footwear issues, and driving challenges. Positive effects of wearing the AFO were also reported, primarily the ability to walk further.

Conclusions

An AFO may be an acceptable therapeutic intervention to improve perceived walking performance in older adult males with PAD. Addressing participants' perceptions of the AFO and barriers to wear are essential to increasing the positive effect the device has on participants' ambulatory activity.

Comments

This is an Open Access article licensed under CC BY.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pmrj.12829

Journal Title

PM&R

Recommended Citation

Dinkel, Danae; Hassan, Mahdi; Rech, John; DeSpiegelaere, Holly; Johanning, Jason; Pipinos, Iraklis; and Myers, Sara A., "Assessing wear time and perceptions of wearing an ankle foot orthosis in patients with peripheral artery disease" (2022). Journal Articles. 345.
https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/biomechanicsarticles/345

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.