KINESIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF CLUBFOOT IN CHILDREN WITH SPASTIC CEREBRAL PALSY

Authors

  • Alessandra Bombarda MÜLLER Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
  • Nadia Cristina VALENTINI Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

Objective: This study consists of a narrative review on the muscular actions altered during hemiparetic gait due to clubfoot in children with spastic cerebral palsy, emphasizing the kinesiological analysis of dorsiflexion. Material and Methods: Bibliographical searches of scientific articles were carried out in MEDLINE electronic database, using the descriptors: “electromyographic”, “cerebral palsy”, “spastic hemiplegic” and “clubfoot”, in English, between 2003 and 2013. Results: The review of electromyographic findings evidenced that abnormalities in the gait of children with spastic cerebral palsy are concentrated on distal muscles. Lack of control between plantar and dorsal flexors seems to be the main cause of inefficiency in the gait. The presence of clubfoot is more likely to happen due to neuromuscular properties of plantarflexors: spasticity prevents muscle growth, therefore causing contractures, and a reduction of fiber diameter reduces muscle length. Conclusion: the clubfoot is due to the association of tibialis anterior weakness and spasticity of gastrocnemius. As children with cerebral palsy have abnormal movements and muscle activation patterns, it is believed that the function of proximal muscles is changed due to compensatory, but not pathological actions. In clinical and observational gait analysis of children with spastic cerebral palsy, the identification of foot positioning deviations as well as of associated muscle disorders may help understanding the characteristics of the disorder, diagnosis of movement, therapeutic intervention and assessment of its effectiveness. DESCRIPTORS Cerebral Palsy. Clubfoot. Muscle Spasticity.

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Author Biographies

Alessandra Bombarda MÜLLER, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

fisioterapeuta, especialista em cinesiologia e saúde da família, mestrado e doutorado em ciências do movimento humano, área desenvolvimento motor

Nadia Cristina VALENTINI, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

professora associada da graduação na Escola de Educação Física e do pós-graduação em Ciências do Movimento Humano da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, pós-doutorado em Saúde Pública na University of Maryland (USA)

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Published

2016-08-04

How to Cite

MÜLLER, A. B., & VALENTINI, N. C. (2016). KINESIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF CLUBFOOT IN CHILDREN WITH SPASTIC CEREBRAL PALSY. Revista Brasileira De Ciências Da Saúde, 20(3), 253–258. Retrieved from https://periodicos.ufpb.br/ojs2/index.php/rbcs/article/view/19999

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 3 (2016)

Section

Review

License

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