Effects of cane use on walking parameters and lower limb muscle activity in adults with spastic cerebral palsy: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Adults with cerebral palsy often use a cane as a walking aid because of their decreased gait ability. However, it is unclear whether this affects lower limb muscle activity during walking. The purpose of this study was to clarify the influence of using a cane during walking on the spatio-temporal parameters of walking, lower limb muscle activity, and lower limb muscle coactivation in adults with spastic cerebral palsy. [Participants and Methods] Eleven participants with cerebral palsy were included. The spatio-temporal parameters of walking, lower limb muscle activity, and coactivation of lower limb muscle were measured during a 10 m trial with no cane, one cane, and two canes. [Results] Walking speed was lower and the stride time longer when using two canes than when using no cane. All muscle activities significantly reduced when using two canes. No significant difference was observed between using no cane and one cane, except for walking speed. In addition, there was no significant difference in coactivation between the conditions. [Conclusion] This study revealed that when two canes were used, the walking speed was reduced, and lower limb muscle activity was reduced, reducing the burden. In contrast, the movement pattern was not suggested to have changed.

Robot-Assisted Ankle Rehabilitation Using the Hybrid Assistive Limb for Children after Equinus Surgery: A Report of Two Cases

“…The COI values of the tibialis anterior and medial gastrocnemius in this study were compared to those obtained by other studies. Inoue et al reported COI values during walking with and without a cane of 11 adult patients with CP [ 30 ]. The study by Inoue et al differed from ours because it classified the gait cycle into two phases: the support phase and the swing phase.…”

“…The study by Inoue et al differed from ours because it classified the gait cycle into two phases: the support phase and the swing phase. According to their study, the COI values of CP patients without a cane were 0.57 ± 0.09 in the stance phase and 0.46 ± 0.09 in the swing phase [ 30 ]. Our results show that the COI values on the operative side before HAL-SJ training were higher than those observed during the previous study (operative side COI in the stance phase: case 1, 0.77 ± 0.19, and case 2, 0.68 ± 0.21; operative side COI in the swing phase: case 1, 0.57 ± 0.21, and case 2, 0.54 ± 0.12).…”