用高溫塑膠村質製作的『踝足支架 』(ankle-foot orthosis, AFO)是控制踝足關節的一種裝具。傳統上,這類支架多採穿戴在小腿後面的『腿後式』的設計,且足部必須同時穿上鞋子病患才好行走。臨床上,這種『腿後式』的踝足支架,對於重度痙攣性的偏癱病患之踝足問題(內翻足),矯正效果似乎不甚理想。本文引介一種 『腿前式」的設計,它是利用低溫材質在腿足上直接成形的踝足支架。這種設計具有與『腿後式』不一樣的特色,如:可光著腳跟行走,內翻足的控制效果理想。本文除介紹其製作程序外,並就臨床的角度,探討『腿後式』和『腿前式』兩者之力學問題。
Various plastic, ankle-foot orthoses (AFO) are available for controlling the alignment and motion of the joints of the foot and ankle. Most of them are designed in posterior leaf type and fail to satisfactorily control the ankle-foot problem resulting from spastic hemiplegia. This article introduces an anterior direct molding AFO, a design that has some advantages not shared by the posterior AFO. The mechanics of both anterior and posterior AFO with respect to clinical practice was discussed.