Associated Disorders of Locomotion and Postural Control of Axial Segments in Cerebral Palsy

Union de Gestion des Etablissements des Caisses d'Assurance Maladie - Nord Est17 enrolled

Overview

Gait abnormalities, which occur in Cerebral Palsy (CP), are characterized usually by a toe-to-floor or a plantar-to-floor initial contact (equinus gait), followed by an early braking of the tibia's forward progression (during ankle dorsiflexion). This causes consequently a trunk deceleration. Moreover, children with CP have difficulties to stabilize the trunk and the head in the space, and that could have impact on gait. If equinus gait is often attributed to the triceps surae spasticity, recent works suggest rather that this early braking of the dorsiflexion could be a motor adaptation to axial postural control difficulties. This thesis project aims firstly to attest that locomotor disorders are related to these difficulties in the stabilization of the axial body segments in children with CP and, secondly, to show that improving the trunk and head postural control with a specific rehabilitation protocol could reduce the early braking of the dorsiflexion and, consequently, the gait abnormalities observed in CP.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Cerebral Palsy, Spastic

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 5 YearsMax age: 12 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Gross Motor Function Classification System I or II * no or minimal contracture of the triceps surae * presence of soleus spasticity Exclusion Criteria: * botulinum toxin injections or surgery in the lower limb respectively in the 6 and 12 months preceding the study * any modification of the physical or orthopaedic therapy within the last two months * minimal hip flexion above 20° in a clinical examination * pain in the lower legs when standing or walking