COMPARISION BETWEEN ANTERIOR AND POSTERIOR WALKER ON GAIT PARAMETERS AND PHYSIOLOGICAL COST INDEX IN CHILDREN WITH SPASTIC DIPLEGIC CEREBRAL PALSY

Bhalekar Gargi Chandrakumar; Chicholikar Pallavi Vaibhav

Volume : IX, Issue : II, February - 2019

COMPARISION BETWEEN ANTERIOR AND POSTERIOR WALKER ON GAIT PARAMETERS AND PHYSIOLOGICAL COST INDEX IN CHILDREN WITH SPASTIC DIPLEGIC CEREBRAL PALSY

Bhalekar Gargi Chandrakumar, Chicholikar Pallavi Vaibhav

Abstract :

To make children who may lose some basic skills to accomplish walking or may have delayed in walking development is a very important issue. Gait in these children may exhibit the following characteristics: poor motor control, poor balance, muscle strength insufficiently, and muscle incoordination. The purpose of this study was to compare gait pattern and energy consumption in children with spastic diplegic CP, when using anterior and PWs, and to determine which walker should be recommended as a walking aid for these children. Twenty spastic diplegic cereal palsied children, of average age 7 to 14 years, were enrolled in this study. Before assessment, they had all received a practice period to familiarize themselves with both types of walker. Gait characteristics were evaluated by making them walk on the paper with ink applied on foot, and energy expenditure was determined by taking their resting and final heart rate they were using the walkers. The oxygen consumption rate was significantly lower whilst using the PW, as was the oxygen cost. Walking speed and cadence on gait analysis showed no significant difference between the walker types. The conclusion of this study was step length, stride length and step width were significantly different for the two walkers. Flexion angles of the trunk, hip and knee were better using a PW. Gait analysis data and oxygen consumption measurements indicated that the PW has more advantages in terms of upright positioning and energy conservation than the AW. In clinic, we should adapt the walkers according to different goals and different abilities of users.