Acute passive stretching has no effect on gastrocnemius medialis stiffness in children with unilateral cerebral palsy.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an acute high-intensity, long-duration passive stretching session of the plantar flexor muscles, on maximal dorsiflexion (DF) angle and passive stiffness at both ankle joint and gastrocnemius medialis (GM) muscle levels in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: 13 children [mean age: 10 years 6 months, gross motor function classification system (GMFCS): I] with unilateral CP underwent a 5 min passive stretching session at 80% of maximal DF angle. Changes in maximal DF angle, slack angle, passive ankle joint and GM muscle stiffness from PRE- to POST-intervention were determined during passive ankle mobilization performed on a dynamometer coupled with shear wave elastography measurements (i.

Mechanical properties of ankle joint and gastrocnemius muscle in spastic children with unilateral cerebral palsy measured with shear wave elastography.

The aim of this study was to describe passive mechanical and morphological properties of the ankle joint and gastrocnemius medialis (GM) muscle in paretic and contralateral legs in highly functional children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) using shear wave elastography (SWE). SWE measurements on the GM muscle were performed in both paretic and contralateral legs during passive ankle dorsiflexion using a dynamometer in 11 children (mean age: 10 years 6 months) with UCP. Torque-angle and shear modulus-angle relationships were fitted using an exponential model to determine passive ankle joint and GM muscle stiffness respectively.

Reliability of Shear Wave Elastography and Ultrasound Measurement in Children with Unilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy.

In clinical practice, few data exist on the feasibility of performing reliable shear wave elastography (SWE) and ultrasonography (US) measurements in spastic muscles of children with cerebral palsy (CP). Ten children with unilateral CP took part in SWE and US assessment of the tibialis anterior and medialis gastrocnemius muscles during two sessions separated by a 1-wk interval. Intra- and inter-investigator reliability of shear modulus (µ) and muscle thickness (MT) measurements, at neutral and maximal dorsiflexion angles on both legs, was assessed by two investigators with different levels of experience.

What causes increased passive stiffness of plantarflexor muscle-tendon unit in children with spastic cerebral palsy?

Purpose: The term 'stiffness' is commonly used in the literature to refer to various components of 'hyperresistance' by which spastic muscles oppose to their passive lengthening, especially in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Originally, stiffness consists of mechanical resistance to passive movement in the absence of any muscle activation. Increased muscle stiffness in CP therefore refers to alterations to the mechanical properties of the tissue.