BACKGROUND: Gait in young people with cerebral palsy is inefficient and there is a lack of relevant indicators for monitoring the problem. In particular, the impact of gait kinematics on gait efficiency is not well documented. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between gait efficiency, gait kinematics, lower limb muscle strength, and muscular spasticity in adolescents with cerebral palsy. METHODS: Ten ambulatory adolescents with spastic cerebral palsy were recruited. The energy expenditure index during gait, gait kinematics, flexion and extension knee isometric muscle strength, and quadriceps spasticity were assessed. FINDINGS: Energy expenditure index (1.5 (0.7) beats/m) was strongly correlated with the ankle and knee flexion/extension ranges of motion (r= -0.82, P<0.01 and r= -0.70, P<0.02, respectively) and also with maximal plantar flexion (r=0.74, P<0.05) during gait. Knee flexion strength was the only strength measurement correlated with energy expenditure index (r= -0.85; P<0.01). INTERPRETATION: This study suggests that ankle and knee flexion/extension ranges of motion during gait are key kinematics factors in gait efficiency in adolescents with cerebral palsy.
BACKGROUND: Gait in young people with cerebral palsy is inefficient and there is a lack of relevant indicators for monitoring the problem. In particular, the impact of gait kinematics on gait efficiency is not well documented. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between gait efficiency, gait kinematics, lower limb muscle strength, and muscular spasticity in adolescents with cerebral palsy. METHODS: Ten ambulatory adolescents with spastic cerebral palsy were recruited. The energy expenditure index during gait, gait kinematics, flexion and extension knee isometric muscle strength, and quadriceps spasticity were assessed. FINDINGS: Energy expenditure index (1.5 (0.7) beats/m) was strongly correlated with the ankle and knee flexion/extension ranges of motion (r= -0.82, P<0.01 and r= -0.70, P<0.02, respectively) and also with maximal plantar flexion (r=0.74, P<0.05) during gait. Knee flexion strength was the only strength measurement correlated with energy expenditure index (r= -0.85; P<0.01). INTERPRETATION: This study suggests that ankle and knee flexion/extension ranges of motion during gait are key kinematics factors in gait efficiency in adolescents with cerebral palsy.
Authors: Joseph J Krzak; Daniel M Corcos; Diane L Damiano; Adam Graf; Donald Hedeker; Peter A Smith; Gerald F Harris Journal: Gait Posture Date: 2014-11-10 Impact factor: 2.840
Authors: Benjamin C Conner; Nushka M Remec; Cassidy M Michaels; Chase W Wallace; Emily Andrisevic; Zachary F Lerner Journal: Gait Posture Date: 2021-10-25 Impact factor: 2.840
Authors: Anahid Ebrahimi; Michael H Schwartz; Jack A Martin; Tom F Novacheck; Darryl G Thelen Journal: J Orthop Res Date: 2022-02-25 Impact factor: 3.102
Authors: Joline E Brandenburg; Sarah F Eby; Pengfei Song; Shirley Kingsley-Berg; William Bamlet; Gary C Sieck; Kai-Nan An Journal: Dev Med Child Neurol Date: 2016-07-04 Impact factor: 5.449
Authors: Guido Weide; Peter A Huijing; Lynn Bar-On; Lizeth Sloot; Annemieke I Buizer; Jules G Becher; Jaap Harlaar; Richard T Jaspers Journal: Front Physiol Date: 2020-11-23 Impact factor: 4.566
Authors: Yvette L Kerkum; Annemieke I Buizer; Josien C van den Noort; Jules G Becher; Jaap Harlaar; Merel-Anne Brehm Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-11-23 Impact factor: 3.240