Rocker Shoes for Natural Immobilization of the Ankle during Single Limb Support

描述（由申请人提供）： 使用步行石膏或靴子固定踝关节是缓解疼痛的常见治疗方法。当使用步行石膏或靴子行走时，踝关节仍然承受压缩载荷，但其移动能力受到限制。这种干预的使用表明，疼痛可能会因压迫和运动的相互作用而加剧，其他减少或消除运动的干预措施也可能有效减轻疼痛。不幸的是，使用步行石膏或靴子减少了踝关节肌肉收缩的需要，导致腿部肌肉萎缩和虚弱。步行石膏和靴子也是非常明显的干预措施，可能会对患者的依从性产生负面影响。最近的研究表明，可以制造在行走的单肢支撑（SLS）阶段（关节上的最高压缩负荷的时期）期间导致踝关节很少或没有运动的摇杆鞋。这些摇椅鞋导致踝关节的“自然固定”，因为它们提供了身体健全的人在水平行走期间一致且自然地试图获得的摇椅形状。穿着摇椅鞋的人仍然需要肌肉活动才能“自然地伸展”脚踝，这表明长期使用摇椅鞋可能不会导致肌肉萎缩。这项初步研究包括开发的摇杆鞋，可以“自然地”踝关节在单肢支持步行和比较这些摇杆鞋与步行靴子。该研究将包含患有持续慢性踝关节疼痛的平行组，步行靴被认为是减轻疼痛的一种方法。一组（n = 15）将使用在SLS过程中“自然地包裹”脚踝的摇椅鞋，而第二组（n = 15）将使用步行靴子来包裹脚踝。两组将在两个月的时间内使用干预措施，并在干预前后采集数据，重点关注疼痛缓解、小腿围（反映肌肉萎缩）、使用时间和患者满意度。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Immobilization of the ankle using a walking cast or boot is a common treatment to relieve pain. When walking with a walking cast or boot, the ankle joint still bears compressive load, but is limited in its ability to move. The use of this intervention suggests that pain may be exacerbated by the interaction of compression and movement and that other interventions that reduce or eliminate movement may also be effective at reducing pain. Unfortunately, the use of walking casts or boots reduce the need for muscular contractions across the ankle joint, leading to atrophy and weakness of the leg muscles. Walking casts and boots are also highly noticeable interventions that may negatively affect patient compliance. Recent work has shown that rocker shoes can be manufactured that lead to little or no motion at the ankle during single limb support (SLS) phase of walking, the period of highest compressive load on the joints. These rocker shoes lead to "natural immobilization" of the ankle joint because they provide a rocker shape that able- bodied persons consistently and naturally try to obtain during level walking. Muscle activity is still needed to "naturally immobilize" the ankle with rocker shoe, suggesting that long term use of the shoes may not lead to muscle atrophy. This pilot study includes development of rocker shoes that can "naturally immobilize" the ankle during single limb support of walking and a comparison of these rocker shoes with a walking boot. The study will contain parallel groups of persons with constant chronic ankle pain for whom walking boots are being considered as an approach to reduce pain. One group (n = 15) will use rocker shoes that "naturally immobilize" the ankle during SLS, while the second group (n = 15) will use a walking boot to immobilize the ankle. Both groups will use the interventions over a two month period of time and data will be acquired before and after the intervention focusing on pain relief, calf circumference (to reflect muscle atrophy), usage times, and patient satisfaction.