Modification of lower limb physical assessment in cerebral palsy V1

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Modification of lower limb physical assessment of joint range of motion and bi-articular muscles length used in subjects with cerebral palsy

• IRAS ID

  163362

• Contact name

  Fatma Mohsin

• Contact email

  Fatma.mohsin@strath.ac.uk

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 0 months, 0 days

• Research summary

  Ankle-Foot Orthoses (AFO) are external devices commonly prescribed to help stabilise the knee joint and limit excessive tibial inclination in subjects with cerebral palsy (CP). Assessment procedures of joint range of motion (ROM) and bi-articular muscle length are crucial elements to determine the appropriate prescription of AFO. Additionally, clear understanding of the measurements obtained from assessment is important to understand the functional defects and this in return will help to determine the appropriate treatment pathway and the success of the device. However, lack of clarity between the findings of assessment and the success of the device still exist.
  The overall aim of this research is to improve the assessment procedure of joint ROM and bi-articular muscle length. Better understanding of functional defects will help to determine the optimum AFO prescription criteria required for each patient.
  Subjects with diplegic CP who exhibit crouch gait characteristics (excessive tibial inclination and insufficient knee control) will be recruited for this study from age 7 and above with no upper limits.
  This research is a pilot study which will include two main parts. In one of the parts, proposed modification to the bi-articular muscle length assessment procedures of hamstrings muscles length and rectus femoris muscle length in the presence of shortening and spasticity of these muscles will be investigated to ascertain the most appropriate procedure which reflects the gait cycle (GC). In the other part, setting the ankle in 4 different positions within the AFO in presence of spasticity and tone of gastrocnemius muscle will be compared in order to establish the best position which will optimise the GC and the biomechanical effect of AFO. These positions include setting the ankle at, 90 degrees; gastrocnemius muscle length (relaxed); gastrocnemius muscle length (forced) and spastic catch of gastrocnemius muscle.

• REC name

  West of Scotland REC 4

• REC reference

  15/WS/0043

• Date of REC Opinion

  1 Apr 2015

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion