Muscle capacity to accelerate the body during gait varies with foot position in cerebral palsy

Amy K. Hegarty, Max J. Kurz, Wayne Stuberg, Anne K. Silverman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Children with cerebral palsy (CP) often have altered gait patterns compared to their typically developing peers. These gait patterns are characterized based on sagittal plane kinematic deviations; however, many children with CP also walk with altered transverse plane kinematics. Research Question: How do both altered skeletal alignment and kinematic deviations affect muscles’ capacity to accelerate the body during gait? Methods: A three-dimensional gait analysis was completed for 18 children with spastic CP (12.5 ± 2.9 years; GMFCS level II). Musculoskeletal models were developed for each participant, and tibial torsion, measured during a static standing trial and assessed using motion capture, was incorporated. An induced acceleration analysis was performed to evaluate the capacity of muscles to accelerate the body center of mass throughout stance. Differences between the root-mean-square muscle capacity for children with CP walking with internally rotated, standard, and externally rotated postures were evaluated. Results: Externally rotated postures resulted in a lower capacity to accelerate the body center of mass compared with internally rotated postures. Both changes in skeletal alignment and kinematics contributed to changes in muscle capacity to accelerate the body. Significance: Altered transverse plane skeletal alignment and compensatory kinematics should both be considered in surgical treatment of children with CP.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)54-59
Number of pages6
JournalGait and Posture
Volume78
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2020

Keywords

  • Biomechanics
  • Children
  • Foot progression angle
  • Gait
  • Musculoskeletal modeling

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics
  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
  • Rehabilitation

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