Pendulum Test Measure Correlates With Gait Parameters in Children With Cerebral Palsy Publisher Pubmed



Lotfian M¹ ; Mirbagheri MM¹ ; Kharazi MR² ; Dadashi F¹ ; Nourian R³ ; Irani A⁴ ; Mirbagheri A¹
Source: Proceedings of the Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society# EMBS Published:2016

Abstract

Individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) usually suffer from different impairments including gait impairment and spasticity. Spastic hypertonia is a defining feature of spasticity and manifests as a mechanical abnormality. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between spastic hypertonia and gait impairments in spastic children with CP, addressing an important controversial issue. Spastic hypertonia was quantified using the pendulum test. The gait impairments were evaluated using the motion capture system in a gait laboratory. Our results showed significant correlations among gait parameters; i.e. walking speed, step length, and the pendulum test measures. This indicates that neuromuscular abnormalities are associated with spasticity and may contribute to gait impairments. The clinical implication is that the impaired gait in children with CP may be improved with the treatment of neuromuscular abnormalities. © 2016 IEEE.