Quantitative gait analysis in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy equinus gait

Abstract

The effects of fixed ankle foot orthosis (AFO) on the contralateral (unaffected) limb of 20 children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) were investigated. 3-D motion analysis was used to evaluate gait with and without the AFO. Results for the contralateral limb indicated that knee range of motion decreased 14% and angle at toe-off was more extended, decreased 18%, with the AFO. There was also a concurrent increase of 11% in the anterior forces. No significant differences were measured for other ground reaction forces. Significant differences were noted for lower-leg EMG activity with the gastroc-soleus muscle increasing in magnitude. These results appear to suggest that the AFO enhanced knee action during the swing phase of the gait cycle and allowed for greater ankle stability at push-off enabling more force to be exerted. This in turn increased stride length and velocity which improved the gait pattern toward a more normalized cycle.