Introduction: Neuromuscular disorders are a group of rare diseases caused by abnormalities in motor units or peripheral sensory nerve fibres. A common feature of neuromuscular disorders is peripheral impairment, manifested by similar patterns of motor impairment and weakness. Patients often use peroneal braces to mechanically stabilise the ankle and prevent foot drop. Purpose: to determine how the use of peroneal brace and walking speed in a 10-meter walk test are related in patients with neuromuscular disorders, how the brace affects the patient's stability, and how the difference in walking speed is related to patient's self-assesment of independence in the home environment. We want to research whether the inclusion or exclusion of walking aids can affect the results of walking tests. Methods: 15 patients with neuromuscular disorders who regularly use and are accustomed to a peroneal brace were included in the study. We performed a 10-meter walking test with and without the brace, calculated walking speed form the results, and collected Extended Barthel index scores and subjective stability scores ranging from 1 to 10. Results: The use of peroneal brace statistically significantly improved walking speed in the 10-meter walk test. The patients’ subjective perception of stability also improved. There was no statistically significant difference between the type of peroneal brace and the change in walking speed, nor was there a correlation between the Extended Barthel Index and the change in walking speed. Discussion and conclusion: The results confirm that the use of peroneal brace has an impact on functional walking and subjective sense of stability in patients with neuromuscular diseases. This is an important consideration in the design and implementation of future research. The choice of the specific type of peroneal brace should be tailored to the patient's individual goals and based on the recommendations of the healthcare specialist.
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