PROPERTY RELEASED. MODEL RELEASED. Hemiplegic stroke physiotherapy. Physiotherapist fitting a foot orthosis device on the left foot of a patient who has hemiplegia, paralysis of one side of his body, due to a stroke. The paralysis is of his left side. This is an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO), designed to support the foot and ankle. A stroke (cerebrovascular accident, CVA) occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted or reduced. Physiotherapy is the use of a range of techniques to regain mobility and strength, usually after injury or surgery, but also after a stroke.