Influence of impaired selective motor control on gait in children with cerebral palsy

PURPOSE: Spastic cerebral palsy (CP) is characterized by four neuromuscular deficits: weakness, short muscle-tendon unit, muscle spasticity and impaired selective motor control (SMC). We examined the influence of impaired SMC on gait in children with bilateral spastic CP. Delineating the influence of neuromuscular deficits on gait abnormalities can guide surgical and therapeutic interventions to reduce long-term debilitating effects of CP. METHODS: The relationship between impaired SMC and gait was assessed using multivariate linear regression analysis of Selective Control Assessment of the Lower Extremity (SCALE) in relation to stance phase knee flexion and temporal-spatial gait parameters calculated using 3D kinematics for 57 children with bilateral spastic CP, ages seven to 11 years. RESULTS: Mean SCALE values were 5.8 (0 to 10, sd 3.0) and 5.7 (0 to 10, sd 2.9) for right and left legs, respectively. Multivariate linear regression models, including right and left SCALE and height, significantly predicted right and left knee flexion at initial contact (R = 0.479, p = 0.003; R = 0.452, p = 0.007, respectively) and right and left knee flexion in midstance (R = 0.428, p = 0.013; R = 0.407, p = 0.022, respectively). The model significantly predicted right and left step length (R = 0.645, p = 0.000; R = 0.523, p = 0.001, respectively) and predicted gait velocity (R = 0.444, p = 0.008). The model including SCALE did not predict step width. CONCLUSION: Results indicate impaired SMC predicts increased knee flexion at initial contact, and reduces step length and velocity. Understanding the influence of impaired SMC on gait can inform decisions regarding therapy and surgery, such as hamstring lengthening. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II Retrospective Study