Gait mechanics of treadmill and overground walking in children with cerebral palsy following fixed knee flexion deformity surgery
Presenter Type
UNO Graduate Student (Doctoral)
Major/Field of Study
Biomechanics
Author ORCID Identifier
ORCID: 0000-0003-4475-7729
Advisor Information
David Kingston, PhD
Location
CEC RM #201/205/209
Presentation Type
Poster
Poster Size
35 in (width) by 40 in (height)
Start Date
22-3-2024 9:00 AM
End Date
22-3-2024 10:15 AM
Abstract
Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common cause of motor disability in juveniles occurring in 3.3/1000 live births. Children with CP have impaired gait due to muscle weakness and altered kinematics; key mechanisms decreasing walking efficiency. Aquatic exercising has demonstrated improvements in spatiotemporal variables in children with CP. Combining aquatics and treadmill training is a promising rehabilitation method that alters bodyweight support, passively increases resistance on the lower limbs, and assists postural stability. However, there is limited investigations of the effect aquatic locomotion has on muscle activation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of treadmill environment and walking speed on lower limb muscle activation in children with CP. Five children with CP (4M:1F, age: 12.0 ± 3.03 yrs, height: 1.5 ± 0.15 m, weight: 49.7 ± 25.4 kg, GMFCS Level I) completed walking trials at three speeds in two environments while lower limb muscle activity was recorded. Aquatic treadmill walking reduced muscle activation of all tested muscles. This is speculated to result from the buoyancy of water reducing the weight-bearing and propulsive force compared to dry treadmill walking. Aquatic treadmill walking seems to attenuate muscle activation waveforms for all muscles, except for the rectus femoris. Rectus femoris waveform differences may result from the hydrodynamic drag in water required to extend the leg during swing. A similar trend was observed in typically developing children. Preliminary results suggest aquatic treadmill walking can potentially be used to target specific muscles (specifically the RF) and reduce mean variability during
Gait mechanics of treadmill and overground walking in children with cerebral palsy following fixed knee flexion deformity surgery
CEC RM #201/205/209
Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common cause of motor disability in juveniles occurring in 3.3/1000 live births. Children with CP have impaired gait due to muscle weakness and altered kinematics; key mechanisms decreasing walking efficiency. Aquatic exercising has demonstrated improvements in spatiotemporal variables in children with CP. Combining aquatics and treadmill training is a promising rehabilitation method that alters bodyweight support, passively increases resistance on the lower limbs, and assists postural stability. However, there is limited investigations of the effect aquatic locomotion has on muscle activation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of treadmill environment and walking speed on lower limb muscle activation in children with CP. Five children with CP (4M:1F, age: 12.0 ± 3.03 yrs, height: 1.5 ± 0.15 m, weight: 49.7 ± 25.4 kg, GMFCS Level I) completed walking trials at three speeds in two environments while lower limb muscle activity was recorded. Aquatic treadmill walking reduced muscle activation of all tested muscles. This is speculated to result from the buoyancy of water reducing the weight-bearing and propulsive force compared to dry treadmill walking. Aquatic treadmill walking seems to attenuate muscle activation waveforms for all muscles, except for the rectus femoris. Rectus femoris waveform differences may result from the hydrodynamic drag in water required to extend the leg during swing. A similar trend was observed in typically developing children. Preliminary results suggest aquatic treadmill walking can potentially be used to target specific muscles (specifically the RF) and reduce mean variability during