Modulation of the angle of rigid ankle-foot orthosis to control knee hyperextension in children with unilateral cerebral palsy

• Shafeek, Marian M. ^[2] ; Aly, Sobhy M. ^[1] ; Ahmed, Yomna F. ^[3] ; Ibrahim, Hoda M. ^[4]
  1. [1] Cairo University

     Cairo University

     Egipto

     
  2. [2] Department of Physical Therapy for Paediatrics and its Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Modern University for Technology and Information, Cairo, Egypt
  3. [3] Department of Physical Therapy for Basic Sciences, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Modern University for Technology and Information, Cairo, Egypt
  4. [4] Department of Physical Therapy for Musculoskeletal Disorders and its Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Modern University for Technology and Information, Cairo, Egypt

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• Localización: Sport TK: revista euroamericana de ciencias del deporte, ISSN 2254-4070, ISSN-e 2340-8812, Nº. Extra 12, 3 (Suplemento), 2023, pág. 2
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a modified 5° dorsiflexion ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) to the traditional right angle rigid AFO on controlling knee hyperextension and improving spatiotemporal gait parameters in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP). We used a pretest-posttest experimental design in which forty children (2-6 years) of both genders with unilateral CP were randomly assigned into two equal groups (A and B). Group A used a traditional right angle rigid AFO and received a selective exercise program to enhance walking pattern while group B used a modified 5° dorsiflexion rigid AFO and received the same exercise program as group A. Assessments for the knee angle during mid-stance and spatiotemporal gait parameters were done pre and post-intervention programs for both groups. All statistical analyses were conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Studies (SPSS) version 25 for windows (IBM SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). There was a significant decrease in the knee angle in mid-stance post-treatment in groups A and B compared to pre-treatment (p < 0.001) but a significant increase in spatiotemporal gait parameters post-treatment in groups A and B compared to pre-treatment (p < 0.001). There was a significant decrease in the knee angle in mid-stance of group B compared to group A in post-treatment (p > 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in spatiotemporal gait parameters between groups post treatment (p > 0.05). In conclusion, using a rigid AFO improves the spatiotemporal gait parameters and decreases knee hyperextension for children with unilateral CP. Furthermore, a modified 5° dorsiflexion rigid AFO is recommended for better control of knee hyperextension than a traditional right angle rigid AFO for such cases.