Effects of 8 weeks daily community use of the Walk Aide on children with unilateral cerebral palsy

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Cerebral Palsy - Spastic Hemiplegia; Physical Medicine / Rehabilitation - Physiotherapy

• Registration Number: ACTRN12611000531910
• Lead Sponsor: The Centre for Cerebral Palsy

Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Results First Posted: 1900-01-01
• Study Start: 2011-05-23
• Last Update Posted: 13 January 2020

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 10

Inclusion Criteria

Spastic Hemiplegia
Children aged between 5 and 18 years
Achieves full bilateral knee extension
Has at least 5 degrees of ankle dorsiflexion on the affected side
Dynamic popliteal angle no more than 45 degrees
Able to follow instructions
Willing to use the Walk Aide device for at least 1 hour a day, 6 days a week for 6 weeks.

Exclusion Criteria

Orthopaedic lengthening to gastrocs/tendo achilles in the last 12 months
History of Seizure Disorder

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Selective Motor Control - Measurement of selective and isolated dorsiflexion on a 5 point scale (Boyd and Graham 1999)[Weekly throughout the 3 phases of the study];Isometric Muscle Strength using a Hand Held Dynamometer for dorsiflexion and plantarflexion of the ankle joint[Weekly throughout the 3 phases of study];2D gait video analysis will be used to determine peak dorsiflexion during swing as well as degree of dorsiflexion at initial contact with and without the electrical stimulation. Physician Rating Scale for Gait Analysis (using Boyd et al 1999) will be used.[2D gait video will occur before the commencement of the first phase of the study (6 weeks pre intervention phase to establish baseline) and every 3 weeks there after until the subject is 12 weeks post intervention.]

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Range of Motion will be measured using manual goniometry for the popliteal angles (bilaterally) as well as dorsiflexion with knee flexion and extension and ankle eversion in plantigrade position.[Weekly thorughout the 3 phases of the study];Spasticity using the Modified Tardieu and Australian Spasticity Assessment Scale for hamstrings, gastrocnemius, soleus and tibialis posterior[Weekly throughout the 3 phases of the study];Single Limb Balance will be measured by the length of time (using a stop watch) the subject can balance on one leg for[Weekly throughout the 3 phases of the study];Calf Circumference - circumferential measurements will be taken of the leg[Weekly throughout the 3 phases of the study];Subjective Reports from the Subjects using a questionnaire which focuses on how the subjects perceive the intervention and the effects it has on their mobility[Pre 6 week intervention, Post intervention and then again at 6 weeks and 12 weeks post intervention.]