Effects of Tendon Release Surgery on Inter-Limb Leg Stiffness Control in Children with Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy during Gait

Abstract

Impaired motor control and musculotendon tightness in the lower extremities are characteristic features of patients with diplegic cerebral palsy (CP). Tendon release surgery (TRS) helps improve joint and leg stiffness, but the effects of TRS on inter-limb coordination in terms of the total leg stiffness, and the bilateral symmetry in leg stiffness during gait, remain unknown. Ten children with spastic diplegic CP scheduled for TRS and ten healthy controls participated in this study. The inter-limb sharing of total leg stiffness during double-limb support phase and bilateral leg stiffness symmetry during stance phase of gait were calculated using the kinematic and ground reaction force data measured by a motion analysis system. Before TRS, the patients with diplegic CP walked with a decreased share of total leg stiffness during weight-acceptance (p p p > 0.05). The surgery seemed to improve the lower limb control and increased the bilateral limb symmetry during gait.

Keywords

• cerebral palsy (CP)
• gait analysis
• leg stiffness
• inter-limb sharing
• symmetry