Article

The purpose of this study was to use an non-invasive method to determine whether
strain on the gastrocnemii and hamstrings influences postural balance in spastic
cerebral palsy (CP). Changes in alignment during standing posture with subjects
positioned on a platform that was gradually inclined were measured in 10 normal
children and 11 children with CP. The changes in postural alignment were plotted
and geometric models used to determine the lines where the gastrocnemii and
hamstrings were maximally stretched. In this way the relationship between
postural alignment and the amount of strain on the gastrocnemii and hamstrings
was investigated. On the inclined platform, which caused ankle joints to become
dorsiflexed as the inclination angle increased, the gastrocnemii began to be
strained and the hip joints began to be flexed (trunk bent forward) at the same
time. In the children with CP, the gastrocnemii were more strained by smaller
degrees of inclination. Furthermore, there was one child with CP whose hamstrings
were also strained on the inclined platform. We confirmed that postural balance
was affected by strain on the gastrocnemii and hamstrings.

Langue : ANGLAIS

Tiré à part : OUI