Understanding the Effect of Ankle-Foot Orthotics in Intellectual Developmental Disabilities

Abstract

Ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) are frequently prescribed to improve balance in individuals with a variety of disabilities. However, the role of AFOs in balance control is not completely understood in individuals with intellectual developmental disabilities (IDDs). The aim and purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of AFOs on balance in individuals with Down syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and other diagnosed intellectual disorders.. The study included 15 individuals with intellectual disabilities who were assessed on balance using a portable force plate and a static AFO. The subjects performed a total of six balance tests on the force plate, three without the AFO and three with the AFO. Using data collected from the force plate, participants were measured and compared to themselves with and without the AFO. The results generally demonstrated an improvement in balance and individual balance variables when wearing the AFO. Specifically, 95% ellipse area, mean distance, anterior-posterior sway, and medio-lateral sway each decreased across the 15 participants. The balance variable of mean velocity was the only outlier in this trend. Further research in the field could improve on the method of this study as well as investigate other types of orthotics or how AFOs can be used in conjunction with other interventions.