Ankle-foot orthoses: effect on gait in children with cerebral palsy.
OBJECTIVE
In this study our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of Ankle-Foot Orthoses (AFOs) on gait function in patients with spastic cerebral palsy for whom orthoses were indicated to control dynamic equines deformity.


METHODS
Twenty-four spastic cerebral palsied patients with dynamic equines deformity were included in the study. Videotape recordings were performed to each patient on the same day with barefoot and AFOs. Temporal distance factors including velocity, cadence, stride length, stride width and Clinical Gait Assessment Score (CGAS) were compared across two conditions.


RESULTS
The use of AFOs during gait, produced a statistically significant increase in velocity (p=0.011) and stride length (p<0.001), no significant difference in cadence (p=0.501), and stride width (p=0.796), and a significant decrease in CGAS (p<0.001), compared to barefoot condition.


CONCLUSIONS
Cerebral palsied children with dynamic equines deformities can benefit from AFOs for ambulation.
Dursun
Erbil
E
Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Turkey. erbild@atlas.net.tr
Dursun
Nigar
N
Alican
Duygu
D
D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004863:Equinus Deformity / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009989:Orthotic Devices