Increasing Ankle Strength to Improve Gait and Function in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study

Abstract

This pilot study was designed to determine whether increases in ankle strength could improve gait and function in children with spastic diplegia. Data were obtained from 12 children with spastic diplegia who were assigned randomly to a dorsiflexor group, a plantarflexor group, a dorsi- and plantarflexor group, or a control group. Training group subjects participated in a 12-week strength program using an isokinetic dynamometer. The majority of subjects increased their strength in the trained muscles; the strength of untrained muscles was unchanged. The Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) walk-run-jump dimension and a quality of life measure (ie, Peds QL) improved significantly for the entire training group. Gait speed was not significantly increased for the entire training group but varied among training groups. Gait kinematics significantly improved or showed trends for improvement for the entire training group. This pilot investigation indicates that ankle strength increases may lead to improved function, gait speed, and quality of life in children with spastic diplegia.