title: Effect of ankle-foot orthoses on trunk sway and lower limb intersegmental coordination in children with bilateral cerebral palsy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ankle-foot orthoses may significantly improve lower limb kinematics in the gait of children with cerebral palsy. Here we aimed to analyze the effect of ankle-foot orthoses on trunk postural control and lower limb intersegmental coordination in children with mild spastic diplegia (GMFCS I or II).
  
  
  METHODS
  We recorded tridimensional trunk kinematics and thigh, shank, and foot elevation angles in 20 4-12 year-old children born preterm with spastic diplegia and 20 typically developing children while walking either barefoot or with ankle-foot orthoses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found significantly greater trunk excursions in children with cerebral palsy compared to typically developing children in both conditions. When wearing ankle-foot orthoses cerebral palsy children showed increased trunk frontal angular velocity. No significant changes in trunk displacement and angular velocity were recorded in the sagittal plane in either group. Typically developing children wearing orthoses showed increased trunk frontal displacement. Wearing orthoses induced significant changes in shank and foot elevation in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ankle-foot orthoses affect postural control and intersegmental coordination in children with cerebral palsy. This should be taken into account when planning therapeutic management.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Analyse du Mouvement, Hôpital Brugmann, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Degelean
authors.forename: Ludo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Borre
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salvia
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pelc
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kerckhofs
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Meirleir
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cheron
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dan
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D061826:Foot Orthoses; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D004856:Postural Balance