Lower-Extremity Strength Profiles in Spastic Cerebral Palsy

2002 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 161-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Marques
2009 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 195-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tishya A. L. Wren ◽  
Jack R. Engsberg

The traditional method for normalizing quantitative strength data is to divide force or torque by body mass. We have previously shown that this method is not appropriate for able-bodied children and young adults and that normalization using allometric scaling is more effective. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness of applying existing normalization equations for lower extremity strength to children, adolescents, and young adults with cerebral palsy (CP) and, if appropriate, to develop CP-specific normalization equations using allometric scaling. We measured the maximum torque generated during hip abduction/adduction, knee extension/flexion, and ankle dorsiflexion/plantar flexion in 96 subjects with spastic diplegia CP ages 4–23 years. Traditional mass normalization (Torque/Mass1.0) and allometric scaling equations from children without disability (Torque/Mass1.6for hip and knee; Torque/Mass1.4for ankle) were not effective in eliminating the influence of body mass. Normalization using CP-specific allometric scaling equations was effective using both muscle-specific and common (Torque/Mass0.8for ankle plantar flexors; Torque/Mass1.4for all others) scaling relationships. For the first time, normalization equations have been presented with demonstrated effectiveness in adjusting strength measures for body size in a group of children, adolescents, and young adults with CP.


2014 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 645-657 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yannick Bleyenheuft ◽  
Carlyne Arnould ◽  
Marina B. Brandao ◽  
Corrine Bleyenheuft ◽  
Andrew M. Gordon

2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (7) ◽  
pp. 658-669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherri L Cadenhead ◽  
Irene R McEwen ◽  
David M Thompson

Abstract Background and Purpose. People with spastic cerebral palsy often receive passive stretching that is intended to maintain or increase joint passive range of motion (PROM) even though the effectiveness of these exercises has not been definitively demonstrated. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of PROM exercises on 6 adults with spastic quadriplegia and contractures. Participants. Four men and 2 women (X̄=31 years of age, range=20–44 years) who lived in an institution for people with mental retardation participated in the study. Methods. The authors used 2 multiple baseline designs. Three participants (group 1) received lower-extremity PROM exercises during phase A; PROM exercises were discontinued during phase B. Three participants (group 2) did not receive PROM exercises during phase A; PROM exercises were initiated during phase B. Data were analyzed using visual analysis and the C statistic. Results. Results varied with the method of analysis; however, phase A and phase B measurements, overall, did not differ for either group. Discussion and Conclusion. This study demonstrated use of a single-subject design to measure the effect of PROM exercises on adults with cerebral palsy. The authors concluded that the PROM exercise protocol did not have an effect on the lower-extremity goniometric measurements of the participants.


1998 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. E7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter C. Gerszten ◽  
A. Leland Albright ◽  
Graham F. Johnstone

Intrathecal baclofen infusion (IBI) is an effective treatment for spasticity secondary to cerebral palsy (CP). The authors retrospectively reviewed the need for orthopedic surgery of the lower extremities in 48 patients with spastic CP who were treated with IBI. Forty pumps were placed in patients suffering from spastic quadriplegia (84%) and eight (16%) in patients with spastic diplegia. The patients' ages ranged from 5 to 43 years (mean 15 years). The mean follow-up period was 53 months (range 22-94 months). The mean baclofen dosage was 306 μg/day (range 25-1350 μg/day). At the time of pump placement, subsequent orthopedic surgery was planned in 28 patients (58%); however, only 10 (21%) underwent orthopedic surgery after IBI therapy. In all 10 cases, the surgical procedure was planned at the time of initial evaluation for IBI therapy. In the remaining 18 patients, who did not subsequently undergo their planned orthopedic operation, it was believed that their lower-extremity spasticity had improved to the degree that orthopedic intervention was no longer indicated. In addition, although six patients had undergone multiple orthopedic operations before their spasticity was treated, no patient required more than one orthopedic operation after IBI treatment for their spasticity. The authors conclude that IBI for treatment of spastic CP reduces the need for subsequent orthopedic surgery for the effects of lower-extremity spasticity. In patients with spastic CP and lower-extremity contractures, spasticity should be treated before orthopedic procedures are performed.


2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 588-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Gigante ◽  
Michael M. McDowell ◽  
Samuel S. Bruce ◽  
Genevieve Chirelstein ◽  
Claudia A. Chiriboga ◽  
...  

Object Randomized clinical trials have established that lumbar selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) reduces lower-extremity tone and improves functional outcome in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Significant data exist to support a secondary effect on upper-extremity function in patients with upper-extremity spasticity. The effects of SDR on upper-extremity tone, however, are not well characterized. In this report, the authors sought to assess changes in upper-extremity tone in individual muscle groups after SDR and tried to determine if these changes could be predicted preoperatively. Methods The authors retrospectively reviewed 42 children who underwent SDR at Columbia University Medical Center/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian between 2005 and 2011. Twenty-five had upper-extremity spasticity. All underwent pre- and postoperative examination for measuring tone (Modified Ashworth Scale) and assessing functional outcome. Follow-up examinations with therapists were performed at least once at a minimum of 2 months postoperatively (mean 15 months). Results In the upper extremities, 23 (92%) of 25 patients had improvements of at least 1 Ashworth point in 2 or more independent motor groups on the Modified Ashworth Scale, and 12 (71%) of 17 families surveyed reported increases in motor control or spontaneous movement. The mean Modified Ashworth Scale scores for all upper-extremity muscle groups demonstrated an improvement from 1.34 to 1.22 (p < 0.001). Patients with a mean preoperative upper-extremity tone of 1.25–1.75 were most likely to benefit from reduction in tone (p = 0.0019). Proximal and pronator muscle groups were most likely to demonstrate reduced tone. Conclusions In addition to improvements in lower-extremity tone and function, SDR has demonstrable effects on upper extremities. Greater than 90% of our patients with elevated upper-extremity tone demonstrated reduction in tone in at least 2 muscle groups postoperatively. Patients with a mean Modified Ashworth Scale upper-extremity score of 1.25–1.75 may encounter the greatest reduction in upper-extremity tone.


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