Objective: To evaluate whether ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) have a beneficial effect on gait pattern in subjects with stroke. Design: Randomized crossover study. Setting: Stroke orthotic clinic of a freestanding rehabilitation hospital. Participants: 40 subjects with stroke able to ambulate safely without orthosis. Interventions: Subjects were randomly selected to either first walk without and then with an AFO, or first walk with and then without an AFO. A 5.1×0.9m (17×3ft) mat recorded subjects’ movements and transmitted the information to a computer. Each subject performed three 10-m walks, with rest periods between each trial. Main Outcome Measures: Velocity, cadence, step-length, and time in stance phase. Results: The mean velocities without and with an AFO were 49.1 and 57.3 respectively (P<.001); the mean cadence without and with an AFO was 67.9 and 74.4, respectively (P<.001); the mean step-length difference without and with an AFO was 11.3 and 9.0, respectively (P<.05). Stance phase percentage of the gait cycle was significantly shorter on the orthotic side than the sound side (F=39.8, P<.001). Conclusions: Results indicate that AFO use significantly improves velocity, cadence, and step length in subjects with stroke.