Natural Progression of Gait in Children With Cerebral Palsy

TLDR

Twenty‑eight children with cerebral palsy underwent two gait analyses on average 4.4 years apart, with no surgical intervention, and the study examined growth and age effects using 3‑D kinematics, temporal and stride parameters, and clinical exam measures. Longitudinal analysis revealed declines in hip, knee, and ankle sagittal‑plane ROM, peak hip flexion in swing, peak knee flexion, toe‑off timing, cadence, walking velocity, hip abduction ROM, popliteal angle, and ankle ROM, indicating that gait function deteriorated over time compared with a group that received orthopedic intervention.

Abstract

Twenty-eight children with cerebral palsy had two gait analyses an average of 4.4 years apart with no surgical intervention between the tests. The effects of growth and age were examined using three-dimensional kinematics, temporal and stride parameters, and clinical examination measures. Kinematic changes showed decreases in hip, knee, and ankle sagittal plane ranges of motion (ROM), peak hip flexion in swing, and peak knee flexion over time. Temporal and stride parameters showed declines in timing of toe off, cadence, and walking velocity. Clinical measures showed declines in hip abduction ROM (knees flexed and extended), popliteal angle, and sagittal plane ankle ROM (knees flexed and extended). Overall results showed that gait function in these individuals with cerebral palsy decreased longitudinally with respect to temporal/stride measures, passive ROM, and kinematic parameters compared with a group of individuals who had had orthopaedic intervention.