AFO and FES Poststroke: Impact on Gait and Function

Course overview

The application of ankle-foot orthoses (AFO) and functional electrical stimulation (FES) to address the activity limitations and participation restrictions of individuals with neurologic conditions is common practice. The Clinical Practice Guideline for the Use of Ankle-Foot Orthosis and Functional Electrical Stimulation Post-Stroke provides evidence to guide physical therapists in the shared decision-making process. This course will introduce a patient-centered decision-making framework and demonstrate application through clinical case examples. Each case will present a patient-specific participation and activity limitation common to individuals with neurologic conditions. The potential device effects will be discussed, and a comparison of various FES and AFO types and their potential impact will be illustrated to determine the most appropriate device types. Clinical decision-making considerations will be highlighted to emphasize the need for a patient-centered approach to best meet the needs of the individual. Evidence from the CPG will be highlighted in each case and integrated throughout the presentation to further guide decision-making.