Subtalar joint stiffness measurements in children with cerebral palsy

Relaxed calcaneal stance position (RCSP) is an important index in the correctional treatment of foot valgus deformities for cerebral palsy (CP) children. However, patients with similar RCSP showed diverse outcomes when accepting similar treatment, as the corrective resistance of subtalar joint (STJ) could be quite different. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between STJ stiffness and RCSP in different loading conditions. 38 valgus feet of 19 CP subjects were included in the study. A reposition force was applied beneath the STJ and pushed the foot from pronated position to neutral position. The STJ stiffness was calculated as the slope of the line fitting the force-displacement data. Correlations between the STJ stiffness, RCSP, and composite spasticity index (CSI) were analyzed. The spearman correlation coefficient indicated that STJ stiffness had no correlation with RCSPs, yet it had negative correlation with the change of RCSP under difference loading conditions (ΔRCSP1w-0wandΔRCSP0.5w-0w). STJ stiffness was also correlated with the composite spasticity index (CSI), implying that this index had an advantage in reflecting the mechanism of valgus deformity and should be considered as a necessary measurement of foot valgus in CP children. The present method for quantification of STJ stiffness could improve the accuracy in the diagnosis and classification of foot deformity and may help increase the understanding of the biomechanical factors in foot deformity rehabilitation.

Download Full-text

Quality of Life of Children with Cerebral Palsy: Accumulative Effect of Physiotherapy Intervention in North Central and Southwest Nigeria

African Journal of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences ◽

10.4314/ajprs.v9i1-2.5 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 9 (1-2) ◽

pp. 27-33

Author(s):

M.J Saka ◽

M.A Odunewu ◽

A.O. Saka ◽

S.G. Akinwale ◽

O.U. Anjorin

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Joint Stiffness ◽

Passive Movement ◽

Abdominal Muscles ◽

Physiotherapy Treatment ◽

North Central ◽

Physiotherapy Intervention ◽

Children With Cerebral Palsy

Quality of life (QoL) has emerged as an important concept in child health. Cerebral palsy (CP) is a life-limiting disorder that is not curable, but the QoL of children with CP can be improved after early neurodevelopmental treatment, such that the affected child can be as independent as possible in carrying out activities of daily living. The purpose of this study was to determine the accumulative effect of physiotherapy treatment on QoL in children with CP. One hundred and twenty male and female children with CP, aged 2 to 8 years, were randomly selected for the study. After their medical history had been taken and diagnosis made, treatment was instituted with the ultimate aims of acquiring advanced postural reactions, strengthening weak back and abdominal muscles, and stimulating cognitive and mental ability. The approaches included passive movement, mobilization to prevent joint stiffness and stretching of stiff joints, and early neurodevelopmental treatment through the use of therapy wedges, rolls and therapy balls to facilitate rolling, sitting and standing. Aids such as standing frames, stimulating toys and diagrams were used to enhance the children's state of mental health. Accumulated physiotherapy treatment had beneficial and statistically significant effect on the QoL (mean score of 54.98%± 13.1%) of children with CP in North Central and South West Nigeria (P < 0.05). It was also found that physiotherapy intervention improves the quality of life of children with cerebral palsy, particularly those who are engaged early enough, and that parental level of education contributes positively to improved quality of life among children with cerebral palsy.KEY WORDS: Quality of life, cerebral palsy, physiotherapy intervention

Download Full-text

An examination of the relationship between dynamic knee joint stiffness and gait pattern of children with cerebral palsy

Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies ◽

10.1016/j.jbmt.2017.11.009 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 747-751 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Manuela Galli ◽

Veronica Cimolin ◽

Claudia Condoluci ◽

Pier Francesco Costici ◽

Reinald Brunner

Keyword(s):

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Knee Joint ◽

Joint Stiffness ◽

Gait Pattern ◽

Children With Cerebral Palsy ◽

The Relationship

Download Full-text

Quantitative measurement of subtalar joint passive stiffness in children with cerebral palsy

IFMBE Proceedings - World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, June 7-12, 2015, Toronto, Canada ◽

10.1007/978-3-319-19387-8_275 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 1132-1136

Author(s):

Wei Chen ◽

Fang Pu ◽

Yang Yang ◽

Jie Yao ◽

Li-zhen Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Subtalar Joint ◽

Quantitative Measurement ◽

Passive Stiffness ◽

Children With Cerebral Palsy

Download Full-text

Prevalence of Speech Problems and the Use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication in Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Registry-Based Study in Norway

Perspectives on Augmentative and Alternative Communication ◽

10.1044/aac19.1.12 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 12-20 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Guro Andersen ◽

Tone R. Mjøen ◽

Torstein Vik

Keyword(s):

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Motor Function ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽

Alternative Communication ◽

Gross Motor ◽

Gross Motor Function ◽

Children With Cerebral Palsy ◽

Communicative Abilities ◽

Normal Speech

Abstract This study describes the prevalence of speech problems and the use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Norway. Information on the communicative abilities of 564 children with CP born 1996–2003, recorded in the Norwegian CP Registry, was collected. A total of 270 children (48%) had normal speech, 90 (16%) had slightly indistinct speech, 52 (9%) had indistinct speech, 35 (6%) had very indistinct speech, 110 children (19%) had no speech, and 7 (1%) were unknown. Speech problems were most common in children with dyskinetic CP (92 %), in children with the most severe gross motor function impairments and among children being totally dependent on assistance in feeding or tube-fed children. A higher proportion of children born at term had speech problems when compared with children born before 32 weeks of gestational age 32 (p > 0.001). Among the 197 children with speech problems only, 106 (54%) used AAC in some form. Approximately 20% of children had no verbal speech, whereas ~15% had significant speech problems. Among children with either significant speech problems or no speech, only 54% used AAC in any form.

Download Full-text