A Taxonomy for Ankle-foot Orthosis Testing Methods

Ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) mechanical properties, such as rotational stiffness about the ankle, influence the amount of support an AFO provides. Interest in quantifying AFO mechanical properties is on the rise but is limited by the absence of standardized measurement techniques and agreed upon terminology for reporting testing method differences. This work performs a scoping review of existing methods for measuring AFO mechanical properties and introduces a classification taxonomy. The classification taxonomy has four categories: limb presence (in-situ vs benchtop), planes of motion (sagittal only vs multiplanar), joints modeled (ankle only vs metatarsophalangeal and ankle), and operation (static vs dynamic; automated vs manual). This proposed taxonomy allows quick categorization and comparison across testing methods, providing a consistent framework for evaluating testing methods.