Foot orthosis design for children with Charcot-Marie-Tooth and impact on gait.

Background: Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) is a progressive disease resulting in distal sensory deficit and muscular weakness. As the disease progresses, most children develop a cavovarus foot deformity. Foot orthoses (FO) are widely prescribed in CMT to support the foot and improve gait, but there is a lack of guidelines for their conception.

Using the gross motor function measure evolution ratio to compare different dosage of hyperbaric treatment with conventional therapies in children with cerebral palsy - could it end the controversy?

Unlabelled: The Gross Motor Function Measure is used in most studies measuring gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy. In many studies, including those evaluating the effect of hyperbaric treatment, the Gross Motor Function Measure variations were potentially misinterpreted because of the lack of control groups. The Gross Motor Function Measure Evolution Ratio (GMFMER) uses historical data from the Gross Motor Function Classification System curves and allows to re-analyze previous published studies which used the Gross Motor Function Measure by considering the natural expected evolution of the Gross Motor Function Measure.

Locomotion Efficiency in Children With Cerebral Palsy Experiencing Limited Gross Motor Function: Walking Versus Cycling.

Purpose: This study compares cycling and walking efficiency, and energy expenditure in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP). In children with CP, locomotion with body weight support aids such as a tricycle is a potential alternative for less exhausting movements.

Methods: Nine children with CP traveled at comfortable speed for 6 minutes by cycling and walking.

Effect of Robotic-Assisted Gait at Different Levels of Guidance and Body Weight Support on Lower Limb Joint Kinematics and Coordination.

The Lokomat provides task-oriented therapy for patients with gait disorders. This robotic technology drives the lower limbs in the sagittal plane. However, normative gait also involves motions in the coronal and transverse planes.

Effect of power training on locomotion capacities in children with cerebral palsy with GMFCS level III-IV.

Purpose: Power training (PT) is a promising training modality to improve functional abilities in children with cerebral palsy (CP). This study aimed to implement PT in an adapted school and to assess its effect on locomotion capacities in children with Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level III-IV.

Materials And Methods: Nine children with CP (GMFCS level III-IV) were trained three times/week for 12 weeks.

Static Postural Control Deficits in Adults with Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1, Steinert Disease.

Background: Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is characterized by progressive and predominantly distal muscle atrophy and myotonia. Gait and balance impairments, resulting in falls, are frequently reported in this population. However, the extent to which individuals with DM1 rely more on a specific sensory system for balance than asymptomatic individuals (AI) is unknown.

Can a Knee Brace Prevent ACL Reinjury: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review aimed to investigate whether the use of a knee brace when returning to sport (RTS) could prevent a second injury after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). This study was registered with the PROSPERO database and followed PRISMA guidelines. A systematic search of PubMed, Ovid Medline, Ovid All EBM Reviews, Ovid Embase, EBSCO Sportdiscus and ISI Web of Science databases for meta-analysis, randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studies published before July 2020 was undertaken.

Short Walking Exercise Leads to Gait Changes and Muscle Fatigue in Children With Cerebral Palsy Who Walk With Jump Gait.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate kinematic changes and muscle fatigue in jump gait during a walking exercise and the relationship between kinematic changes and muscle fatigue and strength.

Design: This preliminary study included 10 children with cerebral palsy who walk with jump gait. Hip and knee maximal isometric muscle strength were measured using a dynamometer.

Effect of low dose robotic-gait training on walking capacity in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.

Objective: Robotic gait training presents a promising training modality. Nevertheless, evidence supporting the efficacy of such therapy in children with cerebral palsy remains insufficient. This study aimed to assess the effect of robotic gait training in children/adolescents with cerebral palsy.

Relationship between lower limb strength and walking capacities in children with spastic bilateral cerebral palsy.

Purpose: Evaluate the relationship between different walking capacities and muscle strength in children with bilateral cerebral palsy (BCP) and assess these relationships in stronger and weaker children.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-two children with spastic BCP were included. All participants walked under three speed conditions: comfortable, fast, and for a longer period (6 min).

Benefits of a Dance Intervention on Balance in Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy.

Aims: Cerebral palsy (CP) impacts motor functions such as balance, limits of stability and walking, and may also affect other functions such as attention and rhythm production. Motor and non-motor deficits lead to difficulties in daily life activities. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a dance intervention on balance in adolescents with CP.

Intra- and inter-tester reliability of spasticity assessment in standing position in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy using a paediatric exoskeleton.

Background: The L-STIFF tool of the Lokomat evaluates the hip and knee flexors and extensors spasticity in a standing position. It moves the lower limb at a controlled velocity, measuring joint resistance to passive movements. Since its reliability in children with cerebral palsy remains unknown, our goal was to evaluate the relative and absolute reliability of L-STIFF in children with cerebral palsy.

Muscle fatigue during a short walking exercise in children with cerebral palsy who walk in a crouch gait.

Background: A deterioration of crouch gait was found in a group of children with cerebral palsy (CP) after a short walking exercise. The increased knee flexion reported after a continuous walk could be related with muscle fatigue and muscle strength.

Aim: Does muscle fatigue appears at the end of a walking exercise in children with CP who walk in a crouch gait?

Methods: Eleven children with cerebral palsy (GMFCS I to III) who walk in a crouch gait were included.

Reliability of maximum isometric hip and knee torque measurements in children with cerebral palsy using a paediatric exoskeleton - Lokomat.

Background: The Lokomat (by L-Force tool) allows the measurement of the maximum voluntary isometric torque (MVIT) at the knee and hip joints in a standing position, as close as possible to the posture adopted during walking. However, the reliability of this measurement in children with cerebral palsy (CP) remains unknown. The main goal of this study was to evaluate inter and intra-tester reliability of a novel tool (L-Force) in CP population.

Lower limb extension is improved in fast walking condition in children who walk in crouch gait.

The strategies for walking fast have never been reported in children with cerebral palsy who walk in crouch gait. This study aimed to assess to what extent children who walk in crouch gait are able to increase their gait speed and to report the corresponding three-dimensional kinematic adaptations. Eleven children and adolescents (aged between 7 and 17years) with bilateral cerebral palsy, who walk in crouch gait, were asked to walk at their self-selected comfortable speed and then as fast as possible without running.

Decomposition of three-dimensional ground-reaction forces under both feet during gait.

Unlabelled: Three-dimensional ground reaction forces (3D-GRF) are essential for functional evaluation for rehabilitation. A platform path is required to obtain the 3D-GRF. The main shortcoming of these platform paths is that during double stance phases of gait, both feet can be placed on the same force platform causing the need for decomposing the 3D-GRF under each foot.

Sensorimotor adaptation of whole-body postural control.

The aim of the present study was to examine the modification of postural symmetry during quiet standing using a sensorimotor adaptation paradigm. A group of neurologically typical adult participants performed a visually guided mediolateral (left-right) weight shifting task requiring precise adjustments in body orientation. During one phase of the task, the visual feedback of center of pressure (COP) was systematically biased toward the left or the right, requiring an adjustment in posture to compensate.

The effect of viewing a virtual environment through a head-mounted display on balance.

Introduction: In the next few years, several head-mounted displays (HMD) will be publicly released making virtual reality more accessible. HMD are expected to be widely popular at home for gaming but also in clinical settings, notably for training and rehabilitation. HMD can be used in both seated and standing positions; however, presently, the impact of HMD on balance remains largely unknown.

Joint torque variability and repeatability during cyclic flexion-extension of the elbow.

Background: Joint torques are generally of primary importance for clinicians to analyze the effect of a surgery and to obtain an indicator of functional capability to perform a motion. Given the current need to standardize the functional evaluation of the upper limb, the aim of this paper is to assess (1) the variability of the calculated maximal elbow joint torque during cyclic elbow flexion-extension movements and (2) participant test-retest repeatability in healthy young adults. Calculations were based on an existing non-invasive method including kinematic identification and inverse dynamics processes.

Impact of a short walking exercise on gait kinematics in children with cerebral palsy who walk in a crouch gait.

Background: Crouch gait results in an increase of the joint stress due to an excessive knee flexion. Daily walking exercises, even when performed at a self-selected speed, may result in a decrease of the extensor muscle strength which could lead to a more severe crouch gait pattern. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a short walking exercise on gait kinematics in children with cerebral palsy who walk with a crouch gait.

Custom sizing of lower limb exoskeleton actuators using gait dynamic modelling of children with cerebral palsy.

The use of exoskeletons as an aid for people with musculoskeletal disorder is the subject to an increasing interest in the research community. These devices are expected to meet the specific needs of users, such as children with cerebral palsy (CP) who are considered a significant population in pediatric rehabilitation. Although these exoskeletons should be designed to ease the movement of people with physical shortcoming, their design is generally based on data obtained from healthy adults, which leads to oversized components that are inadequate to the targeted users.

Agreement of spatio-temporal gait parameters between a vertical ground reaction force decomposition algorithm and a motion capture system.

Introduction: A ground reaction force decomposition algorithm based on large force platform measurements has recently been developed to analyze ground reaction forces under each foot during the double support phase of gait. However, its accuracy for the measurement of the spatiotemporal gait parameters remains to be established.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to establish the agreement between the spatiotemporal gait parameters obtained using (1) a walkway (composed of six large force platforms) and the newly developed algorithm, and (2) an optoelectronic motion capture system.

Gross Motor Function Measure Evolution Ratio: Use as a Control for Natural Progression in Cerebral Palsy.

Objective: To develop a new way to interpret Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66) score improvement in studies conducted without control groups in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Design: The curves, which describe the pattern of motor development according to the children's Gross Motor Function Classification System level, were used as historical control to define the GMFM-66 expected natural evolution in children with CP. These curves have been modeled and generalized to fit the curve to particular children characteristics.