Effects of altering handle height of posterior walkers v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
What are the effects of altering handle height of posterior walkers on gait parameters in children with spastic cerebral palsy?
IRAS ID
164856
Contact name
François-Xavier Li
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 1 days
Research summary
What are the effects of altering handle height of posterior walkers on gait parameters in children with spastic cerebral palsy?
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) find walking effortful due to weakness, lack of coordination between muscle groups, postural changes, poor balance and altered muscle tone. Walking aids improve efficiency, stability and posture.Posterior walkers were developed in the mid 1980’s. There is evidence of their advantages over more traditional anterior walkers, however there is no evidence relating to setting handle height, and little information about bio-mechanics during use.
The aims of this study are to investigate what effect altering handle height has on forces through the walker, posture, efficiency, stability, speed, turning and comfort, and to obtain data which helps therapists understand the bio-mechanics involved during use and if this alters depending on age, posture or strength. This will allow informed prescription of walkers and identify potential for redesign to improve efficiency, promote strengthening or improve posture to maximise children's potential to continue functional walking into adulthood.
This is a cross over pilot study. Participants will be recruited from Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS trust, be aged 5-18 years, have a diagnosis of spastic CP, be able to walk 50m using a posterior walker without rest, use a walker at least once a week and be able to complete a rating scale showing 5 faces to indicate any discomfort they feel. Those who had orthopaedic surgery, serial casting or botulinum toxin injections in the 6 weeks prior to or during the study period will be excluded. Participants will attend two assessments. One to complete Gross Motor Function Measure and physiological cost index assessments, and a second for three dimensional gait analysis. Their walking will be assessed at 3 different handle heights. These assessments will take 4-5 hours in total.REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/WM/0291
Date of REC Opinion
13 Nov 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion