Additional Effects of Shank Adaptations in Children with Bilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy

IntroductionConservative therapy for bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (BSCP) regularly includes a modular orthosis setup with dynamic ankle-foot orthosis (DAFO) and modular shank supply (MSS). Additional effects by this modular supply have not been studied so far.The goal was thus an exploratory investigation of what effects can be expected by supplementing a DAFO with an additional MSS.Materials and MethodsTen children with BSCP were fitted with DAFO and MSS. Dynamic elastic shank adaptations (DESAs) and ground reaction force AFOs (GRAFOs) were used, depending on the participants' individual needs.Participants underwent a gait analysis after supply and 3 months later. Data analysis included a descriptive analysis and further statistical testing using a Friedman test and post hoc Wilcoxon rank test.ResultsThe Gillette Gait Index (GGI) improved significantly with MSS compared with barefoot and DAFO, the Gait Deviation Index (GDI) only comparing DAFO to MSS. However, no further changes had occurred at follow-up, and for the Gait Profile Score (GPS), not at all. Step length, velocity, cadence, stance duration, and step width changed significantly after supply. Kinematic changes developed at ankle, knee, hip, and trunk. However, only minor changes had occurred at follow-up.ConclusionsDAFOs and MSS show positive effects, as observed in spatiotemporal parameters, gait indices, and kinematic data. Most kinematic effects occur at the ankle and knee joint. MSS produces additional effects, with a particular emphasis on the extending effect on the knee in terminal stance. Only minor beneficial effects on kinematic parameters of knee and trunk during swing phase occur after a familiarization phase. The changes in the spatiotemporal parameters imply a slight deterioration.