Résumé : | Background:Despite the importance to patients of driving, no well-establishedguideline exists to help either the patient or the physician determine when it is safe forthe patient to return to driving. Previous studies have recommended 6 weekspostoperatively before patients can return to driving safely. Several scientific studieshave found the nationally recommended safe brake time standard to be 1.25 sec (1,250msec), looking at brake reaction time (BRT) in all types of patients, surgical andnonsurgical.Methods:This is a prospective study assessing BRT after individuals are placed invarious forms of immobilization (controlled action motion [CAM] boot, surgical shoe).The study also tested whether BRT is different when using the left foot to brake, withimmobilization of the right foot.Results:All 29 male and 71 female participants in this study (mean age, 35.49 years)were capable of driving and were not currently being treated for any foot or ankleconditions. No differences were found regarding age, sex, and use of assistive devices.The mean BRT while wearing a CAM boot was 713 msec, while using the left foot tobrake (CAM boot on the right foot) was 593.86 msec, and while wearing a surgical shoewas 626.32 msec.Conclusions:Although most of the study participants were below the nationallyrecommended safe brake time standard, it was found that not all of the participants fellwithin these parameters |