Introduction: Stroke is the second most common cause of death in the world, and survivors can experience severe consequences, including difficulties with walking. To restore the walking cycle, ankle and foot orthoses, along with functional electrical stimulation, can be utilized. Purpose: The purpose of the thesis, is to determine the effect of ankle-foot orthoses on the walking ability of patients in the subacute and chronic phases after a stroke, based on a review of scientific and professional literature. Methods: A literature search was conducted within the databases PubMed, CINAHL, and PEDro. Studies were selected based on the following inclusion criteria: research published between 2011 and 2022, randomized controlled and clinical trials, open-access studies published in English, and studies including patients post-stroke. Results: Six studies were included in the literature review. Various types of ankle-foot orthoses were used for the research. Three studies implemented physiotherapy in a home environment, while three conducted physiotherapy under the supervision of a physiotherapist in a clinical environment. In all studies, significant clinical differences were observed, although some were not statistically significant. Discussion and conclusion: Ankle-foot orthosis helps to improve walking and body posture, leading to increased stride length and walking speed. In the future, research should continue with larger sample sizes, the mandatory inclusion of a control group, and longer intervention durations. It would also be necessary to explore which material is most suitable for making the orthosis and how long patients should wear it.
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