ABSTRACT
Background: Rotational deformities of the lower extremities are common
in children with cerebral palsy and may lead to abnormal gait pattern.
Objective: To determine the effect of leg rotation control splint on outtoeing
gait pattern in spastic hemiplegic children. Subjects and methods:
Thirty spastic hemiplegic children with out-toeing gait pattern from both
genders; age ranged from 24 to 60 months; participated in this study. They
were randomly allocated from the Specialized Damietta Hospital, Damietta
Governorate. They were divided into two groups of equal numbers (control
and intervention). The control group received a designed physiotherapy
program based on neurodevelopmental approach for 60 minutes in addition
to gait training for 30 minutes while the intervention group received the
same physiotherapy program while wearing the leg rotation control splint
during the gait training.
Craig's test and foot progression angle were used to measure the femoral
ante-version angle and angle of toe out respectively. Each child was
measured 2 times, at baseline (pre) and after 3 months (post). Results: The
pre-treatment comparison between groups showed non-statistically
significant difference in all measured variables.
Regarding the rotational profile parameters, the within group showed nonstatistically
significant difference in the trochanteric prominence and foot
progression angles. While, there was significant improvement in cadence,
speed, step length and stride length while non-statistically significant change
was recorded in the step width. Finally, post-treatment comparison showed
non-statistically significant difference between the two groups in all
measured variables. Conclusion: Physiotherapy program either applied
alone or combined with leg rotation control splint improved spatiotemporal
gait parameters but didn't change lower limb rotational profile.
Key Words: Cerebral palsy, Hemiplegia, Leg rotation control splint,
Rotational gait pattern.