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Updated: Mar 3, 2026
Clinical-oriented Three-dimensional Gait Analysis Method for Evaluating Gait Disorder
Published on: March 4, 2018
Kinematic gait pattern in children with cerebral palsy and leg length discrepancy: Effects of an extra sole
Meta N Eek1, Roland Zügner2, Ingibjörg Stefansdottir1
1Regional Rehabilitation Centre, Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Box 21062, SE-418 04 Gothenburg, Sweden.
Insights
Sole elevation improved walking patterns in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). Compensating for leg length discrepancy enhanced gait velocity and stride length, making walking more symmetrical.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Orthopedics
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
Background:
- Children with cerebral palsy (CP) exhibit altered gait patterns, including slow velocity and joint stress, influenced by factors like muscle tone and leg length discrepancy.
- Leg length discrepancy is a common issue in CP that can be managed through surgical interventions or external shoe modifications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of sole elevation on the walking movement patterns of children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP).
- To determine if compensating for leg length discrepancy with a shoe sole can normalize gait parameters in children with CP.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 3D gait analysis to assess 10 children with spastic CP and 10 typically developing (TD) children (ages 7-14).
- Evaluated gait under three conditions: barefoot, with shoes, and with an added sole to the shoe of the shorter leg for children with CP.
- Included children with CP who had a leg length discrepancy of at least 1.0 cm.
Main Results:
- Children with CP showed slower velocity and shorter stride length when barefoot compared to TD children.
- Gait velocity and stride length increased in children with CP when wearing shoes and with the added sole.
- Sole elevation led to more symmetrical stance time and reduced kinematic differences between the longer and shorter legs during walking.
Conclusions:
- Sole elevation is an effective non-surgical intervention to improve gait velocity and symmetry in children with spastic CP and leg length discrepancy.
- Compensating for leg length discrepancy with a shoe sole can positively alter the kinematic patterns of walking in children with CP.
- This intervention offers a practical approach to enhance mobility and potentially reduce joint stress in pediatric CP populations.
Abstract:
The gait pattern in children with cerebral palsy (CP) often differs from normal, with slow velocity, problem with foot clearance and increased stress on joints. Several factors, such as muscle tone, impaired motor control, muscle contractures, skeletal deformities and leg length discrepancy affect gait. Leg length discrepancy can be treated surgically or with elevation of the shoe on the short leg. The purpose of this study was to examine whether compensating for leg length discrepancy, with elevation of the sole, leads to a change in movement pattern during walking in children with spastic CP.
Results:
Ten children with spastic CP, able to walk without aids, and 10 typically developing (TD) children aged between seven and 14 years were assessed with 3D gait analysis: 1) barefoot, 2) with shoes and 3) with an extra sole beneath the shoe for the shorter leg. All children with CP had a leg length discrepancy of more than or equal to 1.0cm. In the barefoot condition, the velocity was slower and the stride length was shorter, in children with CP compared with TD. The stride length and gait velocity increased in children with CP with shoes and shoe+sole and the stance time became more symmetrical. Among children with CP, there was more flexion in the longer leg relative to the short leg during barefoot walking. Differences in the kinematic pattern between the long and the short leg decreased with the extra sole.
