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Spasticity of the gastrosoleus muscle is related to the development of reduced passive dorsiflexion of the ankle in children with cerebral palsy A registry analysis of 2,796 examinations in 355 children

Hägglund, Gunnar LU and Wagner, Philippe LU (2011) In Acta Orthopaedica 82(6). p.744-748
Abstract
Background and purpose Spasticity and muscle contracture are two common manifestations of cerebral palsy (CP). A spastic muscle may inhibit growth in length of the muscle, but the importance of this relationship is not known. In 1994, a register and a healthcare program for children with CP in southern Sweden were initiated. The child's muscle tone according to the Ashworth scale and the ankle range of motion (ROM) is measured annually during the entire growth period. We have used these data to analyze the relationship between spasticity and ROM of the gastrosoleus muscle. Patients and methods All measurements in the total population of children with CP aged 0-18 years during the period January 1995 through June 2008 were analyzed. The... (More)
Background and purpose Spasticity and muscle contracture are two common manifestations of cerebral palsy (CP). A spastic muscle may inhibit growth in length of the muscle, but the importance of this relationship is not known. In 1994, a register and a healthcare program for children with CP in southern Sweden were initiated. The child's muscle tone according to the Ashworth scale and the ankle range of motion (ROM) is measured annually during the entire growth period. We have used these data to analyze the relationship between spasticity and ROM of the gastrosoleus muscle. Patients and methods All measurements in the total population of children with CP aged 0-18 years during the period January 1995 through June 2008 were analyzed. The study was based on 2,796 examinations in 355 children. In the statistical analysis, the effect of muscle tone on ROM was estimated using a random effects model. Results The range of dorsiflexion of the ankle joint decreased in the total material by mean 19 (95% CI: 14-24) degrees during the first 18 years of life. There was a statistically significant association between the ROM and the child's level of spasticity during the year preceding the ROM measurement. Interpretation Spasticity is related to the development of muscle contracture. In the treatment of children with CP, the spasticity, contracture, and strength of the gastrosoleus muscle must be considered together. (Less)
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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Acta Orthopaedica
volume
82
issue
6
pages
744 - 748
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • wos:000297352700019
  • scopus:82255165165
  • pmid:21895507
ISSN
1745-3682
DOI
10.3109/17453674.2011.618917
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
d3a5d392-aa4d-484b-908d-3a52cadd5df5 (old id 2272682)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 14:51:06
date last changed
2022-02-27 04:52:02
@article{d3a5d392-aa4d-484b-908d-3a52cadd5df5,
  abstract     = {{Background and purpose Spasticity and muscle contracture are two common manifestations of cerebral palsy (CP). A spastic muscle may inhibit growth in length of the muscle, but the importance of this relationship is not known. In 1994, a register and a healthcare program for children with CP in southern Sweden were initiated. The child's muscle tone according to the Ashworth scale and the ankle range of motion (ROM) is measured annually during the entire growth period. We have used these data to analyze the relationship between spasticity and ROM of the gastrosoleus muscle. Patients and methods All measurements in the total population of children with CP aged 0-18 years during the period January 1995 through June 2008 were analyzed. The study was based on 2,796 examinations in 355 children. In the statistical analysis, the effect of muscle tone on ROM was estimated using a random effects model. Results The range of dorsiflexion of the ankle joint decreased in the total material by mean 19 (95% CI: 14-24) degrees during the first 18 years of life. There was a statistically significant association between the ROM and the child's level of spasticity during the year preceding the ROM measurement. Interpretation Spasticity is related to the development of muscle contracture. In the treatment of children with CP, the spasticity, contracture, and strength of the gastrosoleus muscle must be considered together.}},
  author       = {{Hägglund, Gunnar and Wagner, Philippe}},
  issn         = {{1745-3682}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{744--748}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Acta Orthopaedica}},
  title        = {{Spasticity of the gastrosoleus muscle is related to the development of reduced passive dorsiflexion of the ankle in children with cerebral palsy A registry analysis of 2,796 examinations in 355 children}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/4198793/2371014.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.3109/17453674.2011.618917}},
  volume       = {{82}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}