The effects of the presence or absence of equines and heel height differences on standing centroid oscillation in ambulant patients with cerebral palsy

Abstract

【Purpose】 This study aimed to investigate the effects of either the presence or absence of equines and heel height differences on standing centroid oscillation in ambulant patients with cerebral palsy. 【Methods】 Twenty-four patients whose gross motor functions were classified as level I or II were selected (equinus group, 13 patients; non-equinus group, 11 patients) . We examined the impact of age, foot joint torque, the presence or absence of equinus, and heel height differences (0, 7, and 15 mm) on standing centroid oscillation. 【Results】 Age and foot joint torque showed no significant differences between the groups. In the non-equinus group, the total length of body sway and locus length significantly decreased in the 0-mm heel height compared with that in the 7 and 15-mm heel heights, and the rectangular area significantly decreased in the 0-mm heel height compared with that in the 15-mm heel height. The Y-direction unrest center displacement in the equinus group significantly decreased in the 0-mm heel height compared with that in the 7- and 15-mm heel heights. 【Conclusions】 Our results suggest that standing centroid oscillation did not change according to heel height differences in the equinus group but changed in the nonequinus group. In the equinus group, the position of the anteroposterior center of gravity moved forward according to heel height.