title: Are knee kinematic anomalies in swing due to rectus femoris spasticity different from those due to femoral anteversion in children with cerebral palsy? A quantitative evaluation using 3D gait analysis.
abstract: Quantitative comparison of gait strategy between stiff knee gait caused by rectus femoris spasticity versus that caused by femoral anteversion was the objective of this study. Twenty-three diplegic were divided into group 1 (excessive femoral anteversion without rectus femoris spasticity) and group 2 (normal femoral anteversion and rectus femoris spasticity). Both groups showed low knee flexion during swing (KMSw), but although group 1 exhibited normal KMSw timing and high hip intrarotation, group 2 presented delayed KMSw timing, with normal hip rotation. Reduced KMSw may be because of two different conditions: excessive femoral anteversion, leading only to KMSw reduction, and rectus femoris spasticity, inducing coexistence of reduced KMSw and its delayed timing.
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy. veronica.cimolin@polimi.it
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cimolin
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Piccinini
authors.forename: Anna Carla
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Turconi
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crivellini
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004576:Electromyography; D005269:Femur / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000503:physiopathology; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000503:physiopathology*