Children who idiopathically toe-walk have greater plantarflexor effective mechanical advantage compared to typically developing children.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

The effective mechanical advantage (EMA) of the plantarflexor muscles is important for gait function and is likely different from typical in equinus gait. However, this has never been quantified for children who idiopathically toe-walk (ITW), despite being routinely altered through clinical intervention.

Methods

This study quantified the Achilles tendon and ground reaction force (GRF) moment arms, and the plantarflexor EMA of 5 children who ITW and 14 typically developing (TD) children, whilst walking on an instrumented treadmill.

Results

There was no difference in the Achilles tendon moment arm length throughout stance between groups (p > 0.05). Children who ITW had a significantly greater GRF moment arm length in early stance (20-24% p = 0.001), but a signif

SUBMITTER: Harkness-Armstrong C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9132809 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature