Muscle Activity With the Use of Ankle Foot Orthoses in Cerebral Palsy

Muscle Activity With the Use of Ankle Foot Orthoses in Cerebral Palsy

The purpose of this study is to investigate the change in muscle activity during gait with the use of ankle foot orthoses in children diagnosed with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.

A small group of children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy is investigated by 3D instrumented gait analysis. Muscle activity is measured by surface electromyography (sEMG) of selected lower limb muscle groups. Kinematic, Kinetic, and sEMG data are compared between both lower limbs walking with and without an ankle foot orthosis. Data are also compared with those of an healthy control group.

Inclusion Criteria:

• clinical diagnosis of spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy
• age between 8 and 18 years
• must have an equinus barefoot gait pattern
• must have a heel-toe gait pattern with ankle foot orthosis
• no prior operations

Exclusion Criteria:

• no Botulinumtoxin treatment for at least 6 months prior to investigation