Functional assessment of stretch hyperreflexia in children with cerebral palsy using treadmill perturbations.

ABSTRACT:

Background

As hyperactive muscle stretch reflexes hinder movement in patients with central nervous system disorders, they are a common target of treatment. To improve treatment evaluation, hyperactive reflexes should be assessed during activities as walking rather than passively. This study systematically explores the feasibility, reliability and validity of sudden treadmill perturbations to evoke and quantify calf muscle stretch reflexes during walking in children with neurological disorders.

Methods

We performed an observational cross-sectional study including 24 children with cerebral palsy (CP; 6-16 years) and 14 typically developing children (TD; 6-15 years). Short belt accelerations were applied at three different intensities while children walked at comfortable speed.

SUBMITTER: Flux E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8522046 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature