The Effect of AFOs on the EMG of Children With CP
- Conditions
- Spastic Cerebral Palsy
- Registration Number
- NCT06532981
- Lead Sponsor
- Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven
- Brief Summary
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) have altered gait patterns as a result of primary and secondary symptoms. Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are frequently used to improve their gait. Despite evidence of AFO-effects on gait kinetics and -kinematics, the effects on muscle activity remain unclear.
This study will investigate the effect of AFOs on the amplitude and timing, as well as the co-activation of lower limb muscle activity in children with spastic CP.
- Detailed Description
With a prevalence of two to three per 1000 live births, Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the most common motor disability of childhood. Improving disturbed gait in ambulatory children with CP is an important treatment goal because it is associated with functional independence and participation of children in the society. It is a common practice to prescribe ankle-foot orthoses (AFO) for ambulatory children to improve their gait, prevent secondary deformities, provide an improved base of support, and compensate for muscle weakness.
Previous research highlighted that there is a direct effect on the muscle activity of the distal muscles and an indirect effect on the proximal muscles. However, the impact of the AFO on the muscle activity of the plantar and dorsiflexors is clinically relevant since reduced muscle activity may lead to muscle atrophy and altered motor control. Therefore, more research is needed on the effect of AFOs on the medial gastrocnemius and the tibialis anterior, in both unilaterally and bilaterally involved children. Moreover, the impact of the AFO on the muscle activity of the quadriceps, apart from the hamstrings, needs to be further explored as well.
The purpose of the current study is to investigate the effect of the AFO on muscle activity in the distal and proximal leg muscles of children with CP while walking.
On the measurement day, subjects will first receive a standard clinical examination preceding the clinical overground three-dimensional gait analysis (3DGA) that is planned as a routine clinical follow-up at the CMAL (clinical motion analysis laboratory), extended with an additional 3DGA on the treadmill. The treadmill gait laboratory and overground gait laboratory are across the hall from each other, which makes it possible for the subject to walk from one to the other gait laboratory in just a minute. During the 3DGA, kinematic, kinetic and EMG-data will be collected.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- RECRUITING
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 30
Not provided
Not provided
Study & Design
- Study Type
- OBSERVATIONAL
- Study Design
- Not specified
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method EMG co-activation One measurement of 150 minutes The co-activation was calculated by defining the synchronised activations of the agonist and antagonist muscles. To quantify the co-activation, the on- and off-timing of the muscle activity needed to be defined for the rectus femoris, the medial hamstrings, the gastrocnemius and the tibialis anterior.
EMG-waveform amplitude & timing One measurement of 150 minutes The averaged time-normalized continuous EMG-waveforms for each walking condition (i.e., barefoot, AFO, overground and on the treadmill) the following muscles: the quadriceps (m. rectus femoris, m. vastus lateralis), the hamstrings (m. semitendinosus, m. biceps femoris) and the shank (m. gastrocnemius medialis, m. tibialis anterior).
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
UZ Leuven
🇧🇪Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium