Trunk and hip muscle activity in early walkers with and without cerebral palsy--a frequency analysis.

Poor control of postural muscles is a primary impairment in cerebral palsy (CP), yet core trunk and hip muscle activity has not been thoroughly investigated. Frequency analysis of electromyographic (EMG) signals provides insight about the intensity and pattern of muscle activation, correlates with functional measures in CP, and is sensitive to change after intervention. The objective of this study was to investigate differences in trunk and hip muscle activation frequency in children with CP compared to children with similar amounts of walking experience and typical development (TD).

Trunk and hip muscle activation patterns are different during walking in young children with and without cerebral palsy.

Background: Poor control of postural muscles is a primary impairment in people with cerebral palsy (CP).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in the timing characteristics of trunk and hip muscle activity during walking in young children with CP compared with children with typical development (TD).

Methods: Thirty-one children (16 with TD, 15 with CP) with an average of 28.

Variability and symmetry of gait in early walkers with and without bilateral cerebral palsy.

Purpose: Investigating gait characteristics during the early stages of walking in CP may contribute to the understanding of the development of impaired gait. The objective of this study was to investigate differences in the variability and symmetry of spatiotemporal gait characteristics during the early years of walking in children with bilateral spastic CP compared to children with similar amounts of walking experience and typical development (TD).

Methods: The spatiotemporal gait parameters of 31 children (15 with spastic CP, 16 with TD) who had an average of 28.