title: Length and force of the gastrocnemius and soleus during gait following tendo Achilles lengthenings in children with equinus.
abstract: Nine subjects (12 sides) with cerebral palsy who walked in equnius were evaluated prior to and 1 year after surgical tendo Achilles lengthening. Gastrocnemius and soleus length [Gait Posture, 6 (1997) 9] and plantarflexor force [Gait Posture, 6 (1997) 9; J Biomech, 23 (1990) 495] were calculated. The length of the gastrocnemius and soleus increased significantly (P<0.01) following the intervention. Force output of the triceps surae during push-off increased significantly (13.95 N/kg body weight (BW) preop to 30.31 N/kg BW postop; P<0.01). Assessment of the force-length capacity of the triceps surae in candidates for tendo Achilles lengthenings may identify individuals at risk of residual weakness and iatrogenic crouch.
authors.affiliation: Motion Analysis Laboratory, Shriners Hospital for Children, Portland, OR, USA. mso@shcc.org
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Orendurff
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Aiona
authors.forename: Robin D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Dorociak
authors.forename: Rosemary A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Pierce
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000601:surgery*; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D004863:Equinus Deformity / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome