Article

The purpose of this study was to determine the association between isometric
muscle strength of the lower limbs and gait joint kinetics in adolescents and
young adults with cerebral palsy (CP). Twenty-five participants (11 males) with
bilateral spastic CP, aged 14-22 years (mean: 18.9, sd: 2.0 yr) and Gross Motor
Function Classification System (GMFCS) level II (n=19) and III (n=6) were tested.
Hand held dynamometry was used to measure isometric strength (expressed in Nm/kg)
of the hip, knee, and ankle muscles using standardized testing positions and
procedures. 3D gait analysis was performed with a VICON system to calculate joint
kinetics in the hip, knee and ankle during gait. Ankle peak moments exceeded by
far the levels of isometric strength of the plantar flexors, while the knee and
hip peak moments were just at or below maximal isometric strength of knee and hip
muscles. Isometric muscle strength showed weak to moderate correlations with peak
ankle and hip extension moment and power during walking. Despite considerable
muscle weakness, joint moment curves were similar to norm values. Results suggest
that passive stretch of the muscle-tendon complex of the triceps surae
contributes to the ankle moment during walking and that muscle strength
assessment may provide additional information to gait kinetics.
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Langue : ANGLAIS