Children with cerebral palsy (CP) or an acquired brain injury (ABI) are often prescribed ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) to correct impairments of muscles and/or to prevent contractures and bony deformities. The impact of AFOs on gait, and to a lesser extent on gross motor function (GMF), has been investigated. Yet, little is known about their impact on the quality of movement. This study aims to examine how AFOs influence both the quality and capacity of daily functional activities in these children.

Background:

Children with cerebral palsy (CP) or an acquired brain injury (ABI) often experience similar functional challenges and symptoms, leading to comparable treatment approaches. Enhancing gross motor function (GMF) and gait is a key treatment objective for children with CP or ABI, as these improvements are closely linked to functional independence and social participation. Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are frequently prescribed to support gait, prevent secondary deformities, and compensate for muscle weakness. While existing research indicates that AFOs can enhance GMF capacity in children with CP, their impact on the quality of movement during functional tasks remains insufficiently explored.

Aim:

This study aims to evaluate the impact of AFOs on both the capacity (what children can do) and the quality (how they perform) of GMF in ambulatory children with CP or ABI. Specifically, the research seeks to determine the potential benefits or drawbacks of AFO use on specific functional tasks.

Methods/Study Design:

This prospective study will perform and film two GMFM-88-assessments (one with barefoot & one with AFOs) on 29 children with CP or ABI. Randomization to define the initial order of the assessment condition (barefoot or AFOs) will be performed by flipping a coin. Furthermore, these measurements will be performed with minimal 2 days and maximal 7 days in between and at similar moments during the day, representing an interval period that is sufficiently long (minimal 2 days) to minimalize possible test-potentiated learning effects and sufficiently short (maximal 7 days) to minimize potential impact of progression in functional skills due to rehabilitation sessions. The capacity of functional skills will be scored using the GMFM-88. The quality of the functional skills will be scored from the video of the GMFM-88 measurement, using the QFM. The videos of the two measurements will be scored separately with a minimal of 2 weeks in between, to minimize patient-specific performance expectations. An independent researcher will create two individual data sets of the recorded videos of the two GMFM-88 measurements (barefoot & AFO condition). The order in which the videos are divided over the two datasets, will be randomized.

The patients (with ABI or CP) will be recruited through the Cerebral Palsy Reference Center of the University Hospital (UZ) of Leuven (Prof. Dr. Anja Van Campenhout). Our preference goes to patients hospitalized in Pulderbos Revalidatiecentrum voor Kinderen en Jongeren or in UZ Leuven (Gasthuisberg), that are in their final phase of their intensive rehabilitation. Parents and children will be contacted by the involved researcher (Dra. Laure Everaert) via face-to-face conversation at the clinical appointment, via e-mail or by phone with the permission of the supervising medical doctor.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level I - III
• CP or ABI
• Age: 6 - 18 years
• Prescribed AFO by the medical team (as part of the standard care)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe contractures or spasticity, which makes it impossible to wear an AFO.
• Cognitive or visual impairment that limits the participation of the GMFM-88.

Ambulant children with cerebral palsy between 6 and 18 years old with a consistent gait pattern. They have prescribed ankle-foot orthoses by the medical team as part of the standard care.