Impaired gait function in adults with cerebral palsy is associated with reduced rapid force generation and increased passive stiffness

TY - JOUR

T1 - Impaired gait function in adults with cerebral palsy is associated with reduced rapid force generation and increased passive stiffness

AU - Geertsen, Svend Sparre

AU - Kirk, Henrik

AU - Lorentzen, Jakob

AU - Jorsal, Martin

AU - Johansson, Claus Bo

AU - Nielsen, Jens Bo

N1 - CURIS 2015 NEXS 102

PY - 2015/12

Y1 - 2015/12

N2 - OBJECTIVE: It is still not clarified whether spasticity contributes to impairments of gait function. Here we compared biomechanical measures of muscle weakness and stiffness of ankle muscles to impairments of gait function in adults with cerebral palsy (CP).METHODS: Twenty-four adults with CP (mean age 34.3, range 18-57years) and fifteen healthy age-matched controls were biomechanically measured for passive and reflex-mediated stiffness of the ankle plantarflexors at rest, maximal voluntary plantarflexion and dorsiflexion effort (MVCpf,df) and rate of force development (RFDpf,df). Kinematic analysis of the ankle joint during treadmill walking was obtained by 3-D motion analysis.RESULTS: Passive stiffness was significantly increased in adults with CP compared to controls. Passive stiffness and RFDdf were correlated to reduced toe lift. RFDpf provided the best correlation to push-off velocity, range of movement in the ankle joint and gait speed. Reflex-mediated stiffness was not correlated to any parameters of impaired gait.CONCLUSIONS: Impaired gait function in adults with CP is associated with reduced RFD and increased passive stiffness of ankle muscles.SIGNIFICANCE: These findings suggest that reduced rapid force generation and increased passive stiffness of ankle muscles rather than increased reflex-mediated stiffness (spasticity) likely contributes to impaired gait function in adults with CP.

AB - OBJECTIVE: It is still not clarified whether spasticity contributes to impairments of gait function. Here we compared biomechanical measures of muscle weakness and stiffness of ankle muscles to impairments of gait function in adults with cerebral palsy (CP).METHODS: Twenty-four adults with CP (mean age 34.3, range 18-57years) and fifteen healthy age-matched controls were biomechanically measured for passive and reflex-mediated stiffness of the ankle plantarflexors at rest, maximal voluntary plantarflexion and dorsiflexion effort (MVCpf,df) and rate of force development (RFDpf,df). Kinematic analysis of the ankle joint during treadmill walking was obtained by 3-D motion analysis.RESULTS: Passive stiffness was significantly increased in adults with CP compared to controls. Passive stiffness and RFDdf were correlated to reduced toe lift. RFDpf provided the best correlation to push-off velocity, range of movement in the ankle joint and gait speed. Reflex-mediated stiffness was not correlated to any parameters of impaired gait.CONCLUSIONS: Impaired gait function in adults with CP is associated with reduced RFD and increased passive stiffness of ankle muscles.SIGNIFICANCE: These findings suggest that reduced rapid force generation and increased passive stiffness of ankle muscles rather than increased reflex-mediated stiffness (spasticity) likely contributes to impaired gait function in adults with CP.

U2 - 10.1016/j.clinph.2015.02.005

DO - 10.1016/j.clinph.2015.02.005

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 25757398

SN - 1388-2457

VL - 126

SP - 2320

EP - 2329

JO - Clinical Neurophysiology

JF - Clinical Neurophysiology

IS - 12

ER -