Influences of Spatio-Temporal Gait Parameters on Walking Efficiency of Children with Cerebral Palsy

• Published in: Rigakuryoho Kagaku Vol. 24; no. 2; pp. 155 - 159
• Main Authors: KIMOTO, Minoru, NORO, Yasuko, KATOU, Chizuru, KONDO, Takanori, NAKANO, Hiroaki, MATSUSHIMA, Akiko, SAKAMOTO, Hitoshi, SASAKI, Makoto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Society of Physical Therapy Science 2009
• Subjects: children with cerebral palsy; spatio-temporal gait parameters; walking efficiency
• ISSN: 1341-1667; 2434-2807
• DOI: 10.1589/rika.24.155

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine influences of spatio-temporal gait parameters on walking efficiency of children with cerebral palsy. [Subjects] Subjects were 9 children with spastic diplegia who could walk. Mean ± SD of age was 12.8 ± 3.5 years (range: 7 yrs 5 mo-18 yrs 9 mo). [Methods] We measured gait speed, step length and cadence in 10-m gait as spatio-temporal gait parameters, and pulse rate, walking speed and calculated the Physiological Cost Index (PCI) during 4 min walking as parameters of walking efficiency. Pearson's correlation coefficients were obtained for the spatio-temporal gait parameters and walking efficiency parameters. [Results] No significant correlation was found between the pulse rate during 4 min walking and the spatio-temporal parameters. There were significant positive correlations between walking speed during 4 min walking and 10-m walking speed (p<0.05), and step length in 10-m gait (p<0.01), but no significant correlation was found between walking speed during 4 min walking and cadence in 10-m gait. There were significant negative correlations between PCI and walking speed (p<0.01), and step length in 10-m gait (p<0.05), but no significant correlation was found between PCI and cadence in 10-m gait. [Conclusion] Because walking efficiency was high when walking speed was fast and/or step length was wide, we consider that the factors for high walking efficiency in children with cerebral palsy are fast walking speed and wide step length.