目的:以實證醫學為基礎來探討及選擇前置/後置式足踝裝具應用於中風病人之步態矯正。方法:在PubMed和MEDLlNE資料庫鍵入“anteriorand posterior ankle foot orthosis"等關鍵字搜尋， 並經人工閱讀題目與摘要後，共選出三篇適合臨床應用的參考文獻。結果.第一篇研究發現相對於踝足時，使用前置式或後置式足踝裝具皆能明顯提升中風偏癱病患的行走速度和步長，且兩者並無顯著差異。第二篇研究認為相較於前置式足踝裝具和踝足，後置式足踝裝具於擺盪期能增加較多背屈角度;而前置式足踝裝具與其他兩者相比，於苦地初期能減少足內翻角著。第三篇研究認為穿著足踝裝具確實對中風偏癱病患的步態有所幫助，化需求的前置式足踝裝具其效果亦不亞於後置式足踝裝具。結論:前置式足踝裝具，對於中風偏癱病患行走時站立期膝蓋穩定度不足以及過度足內翻的問題，有良好的步態矯正效果。(物理治療2011 ;36(4):292-298)

Purpose: To discuss the effect of anterior/posterior ankle-foot orthoses on stroke patients' gait correction is base on the evidence base medicine. Methods: Clinical trials were searched through PubMed and MEDLINE， using “anteriorand posterior ankle foot orthosis (AFO)". Three articles were included. Results: The fìrst study showed that wearing AFO comparing to barefoot would improve the gait speed and step length， regardless of the type. Neither anterior AFO nor posterior AFO could diminish the foot drag; however， non-significant difference was found between the two types. The second study revealed that posterior AFO provides more ankle dorsiflexion than anterior AFO and barefoot. Besides， anterior type had the best effect on controlling ankle inversion. The third study argued that anterior AFO fìt the Asian demand of walking barefoot indoors and the effect was not different to posterior AFO. ConcIusion: Anterior type AFO had good corrective effects on knee instability and ankle hyper-inversion during stance phase for stroke patients. (FJPT 2011;36(4):292-298)