Efficacy of a Long Term, High Intensity and Long Time Stretch Training Program on Viscoelasticity Plantarflexors Muscle in Children With Cerebral Palsy (CP).

Efficacy of a Long Term, High Intensity and Long Time Stretch Training Program on Viscoelasticity Plantarflexors Muscle in Children With Cerebral Palsy (CP).

Children with cerebral palsy present early in the childhood altered muscular properties, as soon as structural or stiffness. In the gastrocnemius muscle, altered muscular properties are characterized by short muscle belly length and increased stiffness which contribute to contracture and limiting joint range of motion.

This study assess efficacy of a long term stretching program of plantarflexors muscle on their viscoelasticity properties and maximal dorsiflexion angle gain. Stretching program is characterized by 3 phases: baseline, intervention and follow-up.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children aged 8 to 16 years
• Children diagnosed spastic cerebral palsy
• Children with decrease maximal dorsiflexion angle under +5° in the last four weeks
• Children who don't understand instructions

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children who had damage orthopedics or surgical operation contraindicating realization of the experimental protocol
• Hospitalization incompatible with the progress of the protocol.
• Children who had botulinum injection, extensions casts or the implementation of new equipment (night or day orthosis) for less than three months or the progress of the protocol.
• Children having analgesic treatment in progress