Does cerebral palsy affect gait?
Children with cerebral palsy may have a number of bone, joint and muscle problems that affect their walking (gait). Spasticity or contractures of muscles can cause the knees to flex at the hip knee and ankle which can cause difficulty or increased energy requirement of walking.
What is Jump knee gait?
The jump gait pattern is characterised by equinus at the ankle, flexion at knee and hip, anterior tilt and increased lumbar lordosis. Within this pattern, the stiff knee pattern described by Sutherland and Davids25 is frequent.
What causes crouch gait in cerebral palsy?
Crouch gait is primarily caused by involuntary muscle contractions called spasticity. Spasticity is the result of disrupted communication between the brain and muscles. As a result, the muscles remain contracted for prolonged periods. Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the developing brain.
Why does cerebral palsy affect walking?
Muscle tone fluctuates between overly to undertoned, which means that moving and controlling the limbs is challenging. Ataxic cerebral palsy causes shaky movements and difficulty balancing. When walking, a person with this type of cerebral palsy may need to spread the feet out wide to maintain balance.
How does cerebral palsy affect legs?
Their limbs may be very flexible. Increased muscle tone: Some types of CP cause increased muscle tone (hypertonia). Babies with CP may seem as if they’re always arching their backs or stretching their arms. Their legs may stiffen and move like scissors, and their muscles may contract uncontrollably.
What does a spastic gait look like?
Spastic gait — a stiff, foot-dragging walk caused by a long muscle contraction on one side. Steppage gait — foot drop where the foot hangs with the toes pointing down, causing the toes to scrape the ground while walking, requiring someone to lift the leg higher than normal when walking.
Can people with cerebral palsy walk normally?
Yes, many people with cerebral palsy can walk! In fact, over half of all individuals with cerebral palsy can walk on their own without mobility aids like walkers or crutches. Cerebral palsy can range from mild to severe and affect various regions of the body.
How does cerebral palsy affect muscle tone?
Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common type of cerebral palsy. The muscles of people with spastic cerebral palsy feel stiff and their movements may look stiff and jerky. Spasticity is a form of hypertonia, or increased muscle tone. This results in stiff muscles which can make movement difficult or even impossible.
Can people with cerebral palsy walk?
Most (about 75%-85%) children with CP have spastic CP. This means that their muscles are stiff, and as a result, their movements can be awkward. Over half (about 50%-60%) of children with CP can walk independently. About 1 in 10 children identified with CP walk using a hand-held mobility device.
What is a Circumduction gait?
Circumduction gait –> hemiplegic gait. gait in which the leg is stiff, without flexion at knee and ankle, and with each step is rotated away from the body, then towards it, forming a saemicircle. Synonym: circumduction gait, spastic gait.