title: Plantarflexor muscle and spatiotemporal gait characteristics of children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy: an observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study investigated associations between the active and passive mechanical properties of the calf muscle in children with cerebral palsy and the spatiotemporal features of their gait on both level ground and over stairs.
  
  
  METHODS
  26 children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (age 4 - 10 years) walked barefoot across a level ten metre pathway and a staircase. Walking speed, stride length and cadence were calculated and spasticity, maximum isometric strength, stiffness and hysteresis of the affected side calf muscle measured. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the associations among variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Walking speed and stride length were significantly associated with dorsiflexor muscle strength and the stiffness of the calf muscle, while stair ascent and descent speeds were significantly and inversely related to the amount of hysteresis displayed by the calf muscle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Passive mechanical properties of the calf muscle are influential in gait performance in these children.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Rehabilitation Sciences Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Jack.Crosbie@sydney.edu.au
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crosbie
authors.forename: Adel A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Alhusaini
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.forename: Roberta B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Shepherd
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology