Functional electrical stimulation to the dorsiflexors and quadriceps in children with cerebral palsy.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of functional electrical stimulation (FES) of the ankle dorsiflexors and quadriceps in children with cerebral palsy.


METHODS
Fourteen children (mean age 8 years) were randomly allocated to a treatment or control group. The treatment group received 2 weeks of neuromuscular electrical stimulation followed by 8 weeks of FES used at home and school. The control group continued with its usual physiotherapy program. Assessment took place at baseline and before and after the treatment period. Both control and treatment groups were fitted with FES for gait analysis at the second and final assessments.


RESULTS
In both groups, FES of the ankle dorsiflexors resulted in a significant (p < 0.01) effect on gait kinematics. However, no long-term treatment effect of using FES for 8 weeks was found.


CONCLUSIONS
FES for selected children with cerebral palsy, receiving adequate support, can be a practical treatment option to improve gait kinematics.
van der Linden
Mariëtta L
ML
School of Health Sciences, Queen Margaret University, Queen Margaret University Drive, Musselburgh EH21 6UU, Edinburgh, Scottland, UK. mvanderlinden@qmu.ac.uk
Hazlewood
M Elizabeth
ME
Hillman
Susan J
SJ
Robb
James E
JE
D000293:Adolescent; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000502:physiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000503:physiopathology; D012646:Self Administration; D016896:Treatment Outcome