Gastrocnemius Muscle Length and Velocity During Gait in Patients with Planovalgus Foot Deformity in Cerebral Palsy

Seo, Young Jin; Park, Kun Bo; Kwak, Yoon Hae; Lee, Ki Seok; Kim, Hyun Woo

Abstract

PURPOSE: Patients with planovalgus show various abnormal gaits and these are affected by the different length and velocity of the muscles around knee and ankle. The purpose of study is to compare the length and velocity of gastrocnemius in cerebral palsy with planovalgus by ankle plantarflexion-knee extension couple.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
22 patients with spastic diplegia who have planovalgus were included. The mean age was 12 years (5 years~18 years). Group I consisted of 7 patients with knee flexion more than 30 degrees and Group II consisted of 15 patients with knee flexion less than 15 degrees during mid-stance phase. Normal groups were consisted of 15 normal children.
RESULTS
In patients with planovalgus, ankle dorsiflexion during stance was decreased but ankle plantarflexion was not different compared to normal. There is no difference in the percent length of gastrocnemius compared to normal, but the velocity was decreased. The percent length of gastrocnemius was decreased in group I, but there were no difference in the velocity.
CONCLUSION
The decreased velocity of gastrocnemius is the cause of disability of ankle plantarflexion-knee extension couple and the variable length of gastrocnemius is the cause of variability of abnormal gait.