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Updated: Jun 10, 2026
Evaluating Postural Control and Lower-extremity Muscle Activation in Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability
Published on: September 18, 2020
Ankle range of motion is key to gait efficiency in adolescents with cerebral palsy
Laurent Ballaz1, Suzanne Plamondon, Martin Lemay
1Centre de réadaptation Marie-Enfant (CHU Sainte-Justine), Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Background:
Gait in young people with cerebral palsy is inefficient and there is a lack of relevant indicators for monitoring the problem. In particular, the impact of gait kinematics on gait efficiency is not well documented. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between gait efficiency, gait kinematics, lower limb muscle strength, and muscular spasticity in adolescents with cerebral palsy.
Methods:
Ten ambulatory adolescents with spastic cerebral palsy were recruited. The energy expenditure index during gait, gait kinematics, flexion and extension knee isometric muscle strength, and quadriceps spasticity were assessed.
Findings:
Energy expenditure index (1.5 (0.7) beats/m) was strongly correlated with the ankle and knee flexion/extension ranges of motion (r= -0.82, P<0.01 and r= -0.70, P<0.02, respectively) and also with maximal plantar flexion (r=0.74, P<0.05) during gait. Knee flexion strength was the only strength measurement correlated with energy expenditure index (r= -0.85; P<0.01).
Interpretation:
This study suggests that ankle and knee flexion/extension ranges of motion during gait are key kinematics factors in gait efficiency in adolescents with cerebral palsy.
