Article

This systematic review and critical evaluation of the literature was
conducted to determine how gross muscle morphology and structure are altered in
individuals with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). METHOD:
Electronic databases were
searched for articles describing studies of muscle morphological and structural
properties in individuals with spastic CP. Data describing muscle fascicle
length, belly length, fascicle angle, cross-sectional area, volume, and thickness
were extracted and effect sizes were computed for comparisons between individuals
with spastic CP and typically developed individuals, between the paretic and
non-paretic side in individuals with hemiplegia for all muscles examined, and
across the full spectrum of gross motor function in individuals with spastic CP.
RESULTS: The final yield consisted of 15 articles that met the inclusion
criteria. The main finding of the review was the consistent evidence for reduced
muscle belly length, muscle volume, cross-sectional area, and muscle thickness in
the comparisons between paretic and typically developed muscle and the paretic
and non-paretic muscle across a range of muscles. INTERPRETATION: Given the
importance of muscle morphology and structure for generating muscle force, it is
likely that the observed alterations that occur secondary to the neural lesion in
individuals with spastic CP contribute to muscle weakness and the attendant loss
of motor function in spastic CP.

Langue : ANGLAIS