Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a static ground reaction ankle foot orthosis and strapping system on improving gait parameters in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.
The current study was conducted at the physical therapy faculty of Cairo University, Egypt.
This study included 57 children of both sexes, aged 6 to 8 years.
Three-armed randomized control trial.
Participants in all groups received a traditional neuro-developmental physical therapy program that included standing and gait training exercises. Children in group A performed the training program without any orthotic management, in group B with the TheraTogs strapping system, and in group C with the TheraTogs strapping system and static ground reaction ankle foot orthoses. Children underwent treatment for two hours daily, except on weekends, for twelve successive weeks.
Gait speed, cadence, stride length, and hip and knee flexion angles in the mid-stance phase were evaluated pre-and post-treatment using a three-dimensional motion analysis system (pre-reflex system).
Statistically significant differences were recorded among the three groups post-treatment in gait speed, cadences, and stride length. The P-values for these variable differences were 0.03, 0.011, and 0.001 respectively. Significant post-treatment differences were also recorded for bilateral hip-and knee-flexion angles. For all measured parameters, better significant results were registered for group C than for the other groups.
Orthotic intervention composed of a static ground reaction ankle foot orthosis combined with the TheraTogs strapping system improves gait more than conventional treatment with or without TheraTogs in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.