scholarly journals Effectiveness comparison between carbon spring and hinged ankle-foot orthoses in crouch gait treatment of children with diplegic cerebral palsy: a randomized crossover trial

Author(s):  
Corrado BORGHI ◽  
Stefania COSTI ◽  
Debora FORMISANO ◽  
Rita NEVIANI ◽  
Daniela PANDARESE ◽  
...  
2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 245-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harald Böhm ◽  
Hösl Matthias ◽  
Frank Braatz ◽  
Leonhard Döderlein

Background: Floor reaction ankle–foot orthoses are commonly prescribed to improve knee extension of children with cerebral palsy having crouch gait. Their effectiveness is debated. Therefore, the objective of this study is to optimize current prescription criteria for the improvement of crouch gait. Study design: Cross-sectional interventional study. Methods: A total of 22 patients with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy, between 6 and 17 years, Gross Motor Function Classification System II–IV participated in this study. Instrumented gait analysis was done under three conditions: barefoot, shoed, and with orthotics. Patients were divided into two groups: good and non-responders with more and less than 8.8° improvement of knee extension during walking, respectively. A multiple predictor analysis was done on parameters that were different between groups. Results: In total, 12 of 22 patients showed good response in knee extension with a mean change of 17° (standard deviation = 5°). Good responders showed a significantly smaller walking velocity, knee extension strength, ankle plantarflexion strength, and greater external foot progression angle compared to non-responders. Foot progression angle together with ankle plantarflexion strength explained 37% of the variance in improvement of knee extension. Conclusion: With appropriate patient selection, an improvement of crouch gait by ankle–foot orthoses of 17° (standard deviation = 5°) can be expected. Patients with slow velocity, weak plantarflexors, and external foot progression benefit most. Joint contractures were no contraindications. Clinical relevance This study showed that gait in patients with low functional level benefit most from ankle–foot orthoses. Unlike in patients with higher functional status, contractures of hip, knee, and ankle did not reduce the positive effects on gait. The suggested prescription criteria may help to better select appropriate patients for orthotics.


2002 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 345-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erbil Dursun ◽  
Nigar Dursun ◽  
Duygu Alican

Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 903
Author(s):  
Diogo Ricardo ◽  
Maria Raposo ◽  
Eduardo Cruz ◽  
Raul Oliveira ◽  
Filomena Carnide ◽  
...  

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common cause of motor disability in children and can cause severe gait deviations. The sagittal gait patterns classification for children with bilateral CP is an important guideline for the planning of the rehabilitation process. Ankle foot orthoses should improve the biomechanical parameters of pathological gait in the sagittal plane. Methods: A systematic search of the literature was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCT) and controlled clinical trials (CCT) which measured the effect of ankle foot orthoses (AFO) on the gait of children with spastic bilateral CP, with kinetic, kinematic, and functional outcomes. Five databases (Pubmed, Scopus, ISI Web of SCIENCE, SciELO, and Cochrane Library) were searched before February 2020. The PEDro Score was used to assess the methodological quality of the selected studies and alignment with the Cochrane approach was also reviewed. Prospero registration number: CRD42018102670. Results: We included 10 studies considering a total of 285 children with spastic bilateral CP. None of the studies had a PEDro score below 4/10, including five RCTs. We identified five different types of AFO (solid; dynamic; hinged; ground reaction; posterior leaf spring) used across all studies. Only two studies referred to a classification for gait patterns. Across the different outcomes, significant differences were found in walking speed, stride length and cadence, range of motion, ground force reaction and joint moments, as well as functional scores, while wearing AFO. Conclusions: Overall, the use of AFO in children with spastic bilateral CP minimizes the impact of pathological gait, consistently improving some kinematic, kinetic, and spatial-temporal parameters, and making their gait closer to that of typically developing children. Creating a standardized protocol for future studies involving AFO would facilitate the reporting of new scientific data and help clinicians use their clinical reasoning skills to recommend the best AFO for their patients.


2018 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid Skaaret ◽  
Harald Steen ◽  
Terje Terjesen ◽  
Inger Holm

Background: Different types of ankle-foot orthoses are commonly used following lower limb surgery in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy. After three-dimensional gait analysis 1 year postoperatively, many children are recommended continued use of ankle-foot orthoses. Objectives: Our aims were to quantify the impact of ankle-foot orthoses on gait 1 year postoperatively and evaluate predictors for clinically important improvement. Study design: Prospective cohort study. Methods: A total of 34 ambulating children with bilateral cerebral palsy, with mean age 11 years (range 6–17), comprising 12 girls and 22 boys, were measured with three-dimensional gait analysis preoperatively (barefoot) and 1 year postoperatively (barefoot and with ankle-foot orthoses). Outcome was evaluated using gait profile score, key kinematic, kinetic and temporal–spatial variables in paired sample comparisons. Logistic regression was used to evaluate predictors for clinically important improvement with orthoses (⩾1.6° change in gait profile score). Results: Walking barefoot 1 year postoperatively, major improvements were seen in gait profile score and key variables. With ankle-foot orthoses, there were significantly improved step length and velocity, additional moderate reduction/improvement in gait profile score and knee moments and decreased stance ankle dorsiflexion compared to barefoot. Children using ground reaction ankle-foot orthoses ( n = 14) decreased stance knee flexion from 13.9° walking barefoot to 8.2° with orthoses. High gait profile score and more gait dysfunction preoperatively were significant predictors of clinically important improvement walking with orthoses. Conclusion: The results indicate improved gait function walking with ankle-foot orthoses versus barefoot 1 year after lower limb surgery. Stronger impact of ankle-foot orthoses was found in children with more pronounced gait dysfunction preoperatively. Clinical relevance The 1-year postoperative three-dimensional gait analysis is a useful method to assess treatment outcome after lower limb surgery in children with bilateral cerebral palsy and could also guide clinicians whether further treatment with ankle-foot orthoses is indicated, using clinically important differences as thresholds to evaluate their impact on gait.


2021 ◽  
Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Goihl ◽  
Espen Alexander F. Ihlen ◽  
Ellen Marie Bardal ◽  
Karin Roeleveld ◽  
Astrid Ustad ◽  
...  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document