The Variable Influence of Orthotic Management on Hip and Pelvic Rotation in Children with Unilateral Neurogenic Equinus Deformity.

Background: Equinus deformity with or without concomitant drop foot is a common finding in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy and spastic hemiplegia of other causes. Hypothetically, these deformities may lead to pelvic retraction and hip internal rotation during gait. Orthoses are used to reduce pes equinus during gait and to restore hindfoot first contact.

Effects of artificially induced bilateral internal rotation gait on gait kinematics and kinetics.

Background: Bilateral internal rotation gait is a common gait abnormality in children with bilateral cerebral palsy, but still not fully understood.

Research Question: The aim of this clinical study was to analyze the effects of artificially induced bilateral internal rotation gait on kinematics and kinetics. Our hypothesis was, that the internal rotation gait defined as increased dynamic internal hip rotation itself causes significant alterations in gait kinematics and kinetics.

Performance of stair negotiation in patients with cerebral palsy and stiff knee gait.

Background: Due to the limited knee range of motion, achieving adequate foot clearance while walking on level ground constitutes a major problem for patients with cerebral palsy and stiff knee gait. Stair negotiation as an activity of daily life requires a considerably higher knee range of motion than level ground walking, but little is known yet as to whether such patients are able to walk stairs.

Research Question: The aim of this study was to investigate how patients with a limited knee range of motion negotiate stairs.

Rasterstereographic Analysis of Lateral Shift in Patients with Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Case Control Study.

Objective: Detection of a lateral shift (LS) in patients with diagnosed disc herniation compared to healthy controls.

Summary Of Background Data: A specific lateral shift (LS) pattern is observed in patients with disc herniation and low back pain, as shown in earlier studies.

Methods: Rasterstereography (RS) was used to investigate the LS.

Supracondylar femoral rotation osteotomy affects frontal hip kinetics in children with bilateral cerebral palsy.

Aim: To evaluate the influence of supracondylar femoral derotation osteotomy (FDO) on hip abduction muscle force and frontal hip moments in children with bilateral cerebral palsy.

Method: For this retrospective cohort study 79 children (36 females, 43 males; mean age at surgery 11y [SD 3y]; range 4-17y) with bilateral cerebral palsy and preoperatively and 1-year postoperatively documented frontal hip moments who received supracondylar FDO in 134 limbs were included. The control group consisted of eight children (two females, six males; mean age 11y [SD 4y]; range 5-17y) who received single-event multi-level surgery without FDO.

Does additional patella tendon shortening influence the effects of multilevel surgery to correct flexed knee gait in cerebral palsy: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: The aims of this study were to investigate if patellar tendon shortening (PTS) as a part of SEMLS (single event multilevel surgery) is effective for reduction of flexed knee gait in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and, if PTS leads to stiff knee gait.

Methods: In a randomized controlled study 22 children with flexed knee gait (age: 10.4 ± 2.

Three-dimensional evaluation of heel raise test in pediatric planovalgus feet and normal feet.

Planovalgus foot is a common pediatric deformity which may be associated with pain. To evaluate flexibility of the foot, the heel raise test is used. During this test the arch and hindfoot are assessed.

The impact of walking devices on kinematics in patients with spastic bilateral cerebral palsy.

Increased anterior pelvic and trunk tilt is a common finding in patients with bilateral cerebral palsy especially during walking with assistive devices. As previous studies demonstrate various gait alterations when using assistive devices, the assessment of surgical interventions may be biased when the patients become independent of (or dependent on) assistive devices after therapy. Furthermore, some of these patients in fact are able to walk without devices even though in daily life they prefer to use them.

Definition of anatomical zero positions for assessing shoulder pose with 3D motion capture during bilateral abduction of the arms.

Background: Surgical interventions at the shoulder may alter function of the shoulder complex. Clinically, the outcome can be assessed by universal goniometry. Marker-based motion capture may not resemble these results due to differing angle definitions.

Reduction in primary genu recurvatum gait after aponeurotic calf muscle lengthening during multilevel surgery.

Knee hyperextension (genu recurvatum, GR) is often seen in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP). Primary GR appears essential without previous treatment. As equinus deformity is suspected to be one of the main factors evoking primary GR, the purpose of this study was to determine whether lengthening the calf muscles to decrease equinus would decrease coexisting GR in children with bilateral spastic CP.

The influence of hip abductor weakness on frontal plane motion of the trunk and pelvis in patients with cerebral palsy.

Trendelenburg walking pattern is a common finding in various disorders, including cerebral palsy (CP), where it is seen in children and adults. Clinically, this deviation is viewed as a consequence of hip abductor weakness resulting in pelvic obliquity. Trunk lean to the ipsilateral side is a common compensatory mechanism to counteract pelvic obliquity and to maintain gait stability.