Everyday walking and crouch gait in children with Cerebral palsy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
How does selective motor control and knee extensor strength impact on crouch gait in children with cerebral palsy during an everyday walking circuit?
IRAS ID
313063
Contact name
Jonathan Marsden
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Plymouth
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN14187957
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 31 days
Research summary
Crouch gait is one of the most common walking problems affecting children and young people with bilateral Cerebral Palsy. Crouch gait is a tiring walking pattern, characterized by excessive knee bend when walking and if left untreated may lead to chronic knee pain and difficulty with walking. The cause of Crouch gait is unclear, with potential factors including, knee muscle weakness, knee muscle tightness and difficulties selectively moving joints independently of one another.
In this study we want to find out how factors such as knee muscle strength impact on crouch gait during everyday walking activities where children and young people encounter, slopes and steps. To do this Twenty children with cerebral palsy and ten typically developing children will be recruited for a one off study appointment, where measures of knee extensor strength, knee flexor strength and stiffness and a measure of their ability to move joints in the leg independently of one another will be assessed. They will then complete 6 everyday walking tasks; walking up and down a slope, up and down 3 steps and along a level walkway at a fast and self-selected speed. At the same time the degree of knee bend will be assessed using wearable motion sensors. Data will then be explored to see if there is a relationship between the degree of knee bend and measures of knee muscle strength, stiffness and selective joint movement across the 6 walking tasks.
It is hoped that this research will enable the development of new treatment approaches for young people with cerebral palsy and crouch gait, which target real-life difficulties they may experience daily, when walking outside.
REC name
West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/WM/0268
Date of REC Opinion
14 Feb 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion