Article

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a static ground
reaction ankle foot orthosis and strapping system on improving gait parameters in
children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.
SETTING: The current study was
conducted at the physical therapy faculty of Cairo University, Egypt. This study included 57 children of both sexes, aged 6 to 8 years.
STUDY DESIGN: Three-armed randomized control trial. INTERVENTION: Participants in all groups received a traditional neuro-developmental physical therapy program that included
standing and gait training exercises. Children in group A performed the training
program without any orthotic management, in group B with the TheraTogs strapping
system, and in group C with the TheraTogs strapping system and static ground
reaction ankle foot orthoses. Children underwent treatment for two hours daily,
except on weekends, for twelve successive weeks. MAIN MEASURE: Gait speed,
cadence, stride length, and hip and knee flexion angles in the mid-stance phase
were evaluated pre-and post-treatment using a three-dimensional motion analysis
system (pre-reflex system). RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were
recorded among the three groups post-treatment in gait speed, cadences, and
stride length. The P-values for these variable differences were 0.03, 0.011, and
0.001 respectively. Significant post-treatment differences were also recorded for
bilateral hip-and knee-flexion angles. For all measured parameters, better
significant results were registered for group C than for the other groups.
CONCLUSION: Orthotic intervention composed of a static ground reaction ankle foot
orthosis combined with the TheraTogs strapping system improves gait more than
conventional treatment with or without TheraTogs in children with spastic
diplegic cerebral palsy.
CI - (c) The Author(s) 2014.

Langue : ANGLAIS