Article

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the differences in the dynamic gait
stability of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and typically developing (TD)
children. The participants walked on a treadmill for 2 min as a motion capture
system assessed the walking kinematics. Floquet analysis was used to quantify the
rate of dissipation of disturbances that were present in the walking kinematics,
and the variability measures were used to assess the magnitude of the
disturbances present in the step length and width. The Floquet multipliers, step
width and length values were correlated with Sections D and E of the Gross Motor
Function Measure (GMFM). The children with CP had a larger Floquet multiplier and
used a wider step width than the TD children. The magnitude of the maximum
Floquet multiplier was positively correlated with the step width. Furthermore,
the magnitude of the maximum Floquet multiplier and the step width were
negatively correlated with the score on Section E of the GMFM. Lastly, the
children with CP used a more variable step length than the TD children. These
results suggest that children with CP have poor dynamic gait stability because
they require more strides to dissipate the disturbances that are present in their
walking pattern. In effort to stabilize these disturbances, the children with CP
appear to utilize a wider step width and modulate their step length. Overall the
inability to effectively dissipate the gait disturbances may be correlated with
the child's ability to perform a wide range of gross motor skills (e.g., step
over obstacles, jump, walk up stairs).
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS