Upper body gait deviations in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Background: Duchenne muscular dystrophy is primarily a disease of progressive muscle degeneration affecting the whole body. It is important to preserve the patients' walking ability as long as possible. Inconclusive information on Duchenne muscular dystrophy gait pattern is available for the lower body and missing for the upper body.

Group-based progressive functional, high-intensity training in adolescents and young adults with unilateral cerebral palsy - a tool to improve gross motor function, endurance and gait? - a pilot study.

Purpose: This pilot study assessed the safety and effects of progressive functional high-intensity training in a group setting for adolescents with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP) on daily function indicators.

Methods: Nine adolescents (mean age 16.9 years, GMFCS levels I-II) participated in 12 weeks of training (2x/week).

The Non-Affected Muscle Volume Compensates for the Partial Loss of Strength after Injection of Botulinum Toxin A.

Local botulinum toxin (BTX-A, Botox) injection in overactive muscles is a standard treatment in patients with cerebral palsy. The effect is markedly reduced in children above the age of 6 to 7. One possible reason for this is the muscle volume affected by the drug.

Altered Muscle Contributions are Required to Support the Stance Limb During Voluntary Toe-Walking.

Toe-walking characterizes several neuromuscular conditions and is associated with a reduction in gait stability and efficiency, as well as in life quality. The optimal choice of treatment depends on a correct understanding of the underlying pathology and on the individual biomechanics of walking. The objective of this study was to describe gait deviations occurring in a cohort of healthy adult subjects when mimicking a unilateral toe-walking pattern compared to their normal heel-to-toe gait pattern.