Effect of Modified Ankle Foot Orthoses (AFO) along with Goal-Oriented Physiotherapy in a Child with Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy–An Interesting Case Report

Abstract

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is considered as a neurological condition caused by a non-progressive damage ormalformation of the brain that occurs during the developmental process. Body movement and musclesynchronization are mainly impaired in children with Cerebral Palsy. Each cerebral palsy case is uniqueto the person. One person may have complete paralysis and need continuous treatment, while another mayhave mild movement tremors with partial paralysis but require little assistance. The form and the timing ofthe injury to the developing brain are the main reasons for such impairments. Orthoses are primarily used totreat the secondary musculoskeletal problems of muscle contracture and bony deformity. In the Present Casereport a modified Ankle Foot Orthoses (AFO) is used bilaterally by using an extra malleolar orthosis, medialblock to prevent forefoot adduction and an extra strap to prevent navicular drop for a 7-year-old SpasticDiplegic girl child who was in Gross Motor Functional Classification System (GMFCS) grade III. After a3-month goal-oriented physiotherapy treatment program primarily focusing on gait, we observed decreasedNavicular drop, increased ankle stability (Twisting was not seen), improvement in Gait Parameters such asIncreased stride length, Cadence and improved gait velocity.