Effect of ankle-foot orthoses on gait, balance and gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (9) ◽  
pp. 1175-1188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mael Lintanf ◽  
Jean-Sébastien Bourseul ◽  
Laetitia Houx ◽  
Mathieu Lempereur ◽  
Sylvain Brochard ◽  
...  

Objective: To determine the effects of ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) on gait, balance, gross motor function and activities of daily living in children with cerebral palsy. Data sources: Five databases were searched (Pubmed, Psycinfo, Web of Science, Academic Search Premier and Cochrane Library) before January 2018. Review methods: Studies of the effect of AFOs on gait, balance, gross motor function and activities of daily living in children with cerebral palsy were included. Articles with a modified PEDRO score ≥ 5/9 were selected. Data regarding population, AFO, interventions and outcomes were extracted. When possible, standardized mean differences (SMDs) were calculated from the outcomes. Results: Thirty-two articles, corresponding to 56 studies (884 children) were included. Fifty-one studies included children with spastic cerebral palsy. AFOs increased stride length (SMD = 0.88, P < 0.001) and gait speed (SMD = 0.28, P < 0.001), and decreased cadence (SMD = –0.72, P < 0.001). Gross motor function scores improved (Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) D (SMD = 0.30, P = 0.004), E (SMD = 0.28, P = 0.02), Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) (SMD = 0.57, P < 0.001)). Data relating to balance and activities of daily living were insufficient to conclude. Posterior AFOs (solid, hinged, supra-malleolar, dynamic) increased ankle dorsiflexion at initial contact (SMD = 1.65, P < 0.001) and during swing (SMD = 1.34, P < 0.001), and decreased ankle power generation in stance (SMD = –0.72, P < 0.001) in children with equinus gait. Conclusion: In children with spastic cerebral palsy, there is strong evidence that AFOs induce small improvements in gait speed and moderate evidence that AFOs have a small to moderate effect on gross motor function. In children with equinus gait, there is strong evidence that posterior AFOs induce large changes in distal kinematics.

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-178
Author(s):  
Andrey A. Koltsov ◽  
Elnur I. Dzhomardly

Background. Currently, cerebral palsy is the most common neuromuscular disease in the pediatric population. Spastic forms of cerebral palsy are characterized by secondary musculoskeletal complications. They are corrected by the use of assistive devices and, especially, orthoses, along with surgical treatment, botulinum toxin, and others. Aim. The aim of this study was to assess the type and frequency dynamics of rehabilitation assistive devices in children with spastic forms of cerebral palsy, depending on the level of the gross motor function of the patient. Materials and methods. A prospective analysis was conducted by questioning 214 parents of children with spastic forms of cerebral palsy who were treated for the period from 2017 to 2019. The patients were divided into five groups according to the gross motor function classification (GMFCS). The statistical processing was performed using the application package Statistica 10 and Microsoft Excel. Results. Statistically significant differences in variances (p 0.05) were obtained between the number of rehabilitation assistive devices used in the anamnesis in the year before the questionnaire (period I) and assistive devices used in the last six months before the questionnaire (period II). Repeatedly, patients used orthopedic shoes the most often, and the trunk-hip-knee-ankle-foot orthoses the most rarely. We found five main causes groups of assistive device use failure for children with cerebral palsy. Conclusion. Statistically significant differences in variances were obtained between the frequency of rehabilitation assistive devices used in the anamnesis and during the last six months before the questionnaire was obtained. It has been confirmed that patients used orthopedic shoes most regularly; of all functional orthoses, hip adductor orthosis was used most often repeatedly, whereas the trunk-hip-knee-foot orthoses were the least common. Factors such as a negative attitude of the child towards the orthosis, uncomfortable in life, the presence of construction errors of the product, the absence of appropriate appointments in the individual rehabilitation and habilitation programs for the patient, have led to the most frequent rejection of the reuse of the technical device for rehabilitation. At the same time, positive or negative dynamics on the condition of the patient affected the regularity of the use of a technical device for rehabilitation in only one in six patients.


2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 208-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Swinnen ◽  
Jean-Pierre Baeyens ◽  
Benjamin Van Mulders ◽  
Julian Verspecht ◽  
Marc Degelaen

Background:To improve gait function in children with cerebral palsy, ankle-foot orthoses are often prescribed. However, until now, little attention has been devoted to the effect of ankle-foot orthoses on the postural control during walking in children with cerebral palsy.Objectives:The aim was to compare the differences in thorax, spine, and pelvis movements in children with cerebral palsy during walking barefoot and walking with ankle-foot orthoses.Study design:Clinical study with an intra subject design.Methods:A total of 15 children (12 boys and 3 girls; mean age, 8 ± 2 years) with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (12 with Gross Motor Function Classification System I and 3 with Gross Motor Function Classification System II) performed a full-body three-dimensional gait analysis. Differences in the range of motion of the thorax, spine, and pelvis during walking barefoot and walking with bilateral ankle-foot orthoses were analyzed (SPSS v20, paired-samples t-test).Results:Children with cerebral palsy showed a significantly larger range of motion of the thorax (flexion/extension, lateral bending, and rotation) and the spine (lateral bending) during walking with ankle-foot orthoses compared to walking barefoot. No significant differences were found in the range of motion of the pelvis between these two conditions.Conclusion:It can be concluded that wearing ankle-foot orthoses influences the postural control during walking in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy. Due to the increased range of motions, the movement pattern of the trunk diverges from the typically developing children.Clinical relevanceWearing ankle-foot orthoses not only gives more stability at the pelvis and ankle joint but also influences trunk motion. In order of the level of core stability of the child, compensations can be either seen in the lower back or the upper trunk. Clinicians should be aware of these compensations and should evaluate postural control in a more detailed evaluation.


2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guro Andersen ◽  
Tone R. Mjøen ◽  
Torstein Vik

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.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lærke Hartvig Krarup ◽  
Pia Kjær Kristensen ◽  
Louise Strand ◽  
Sofie Langbo Bredtoft ◽  
Inger Mechlenburg ◽  
...  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document