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Knee and ankle range of motion and spasticity from childhood into adulthood : a longitudinal cohort study of 3,223 individuals with cerebral palsy

Cloodt, Erika LU ; Lindgren, Anna LU and Rodby-Bousquet, Elisabet LU (2024) In Acta Orthopaedica 95. p.200-205
Abstract

Background and purpose — Reduced range of motion (ROM) and spasticity are common secondary findings in cerebral palsy (CP) affecting gait, positioning, and everyday functioning. These impairments can change over time and lead to various needs for intervention. The aim of this study was to analyze the development path of the changes in hamstring length, knee extension, ankle dorsiflexion, and spasticity in hamstrings and gastrosoleus from childhood into adulthood in individuals with CP at the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I–V. Methods — A longitudinal cohort study was undertaken of 61,800 measurements in 3,223 individuals with CP, born 1990–2017 and followed for an average of 8.7 years (range 0–26). The age at... (More)

Background and purpose — Reduced range of motion (ROM) and spasticity are common secondary findings in cerebral palsy (CP) affecting gait, positioning, and everyday functioning. These impairments can change over time and lead to various needs for intervention. The aim of this study was to analyze the development path of the changes in hamstring length, knee extension, ankle dorsiflexion, and spasticity in hamstrings and gastrosoleus from childhood into adulthood in individuals with CP at the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I–V. Methods — A longitudinal cohort study was undertaken of 61,800 measurements in 3,223 individuals with CP, born 1990–2017 and followed for an average of 8.7 years (range 0–26). The age at examination varied between 0 and 30 years. The GMFCS levels I–V, goniometric measurements, and the modified Ashworth scale (MAS) were used for repeated assessments of motor function, ROM, and spasticity. Results — Throughout the follow-up period, knee extension and hamstring length exhibited a consistent decline across all individuals, with more pronounced decreases evident in those classified at GMFCS levels III–V. Ankle dor-siflexion demonstrated a gradual reduction from 15° to 5° (GMFCS I–IV) or 10° (GMFCS V). Spasticity levels in the hamstrings and gastrosoleus peaked between ages 5 and 7, showing a propensity to increase with higher GMFCS levels. Conclusion — Passive ROM continues to decrease to 30 years of age, most pronouncedly for knee extension. Conversely, spasticity reached its peak at a younger age, with a more notable occurrence observed in the gastrosoleus compared with the hamstrings. Less than 50% of individuals had spasticity corresponding to MAS 2–4 at any age.

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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Cerebral Palsy, Foot and ankle, Knee, Range of motion, Spasticity
in
Acta Orthopaedica
volume
95
pages
6 pages
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:85193535952
ISSN
1745-3674
DOI
10.2340/17453674.2024.40606
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
2cd2a2b9-535c-4560-86db-2d7e37635303
date added to LUP
2024-06-28 13:13:34
date last changed
2024-06-28 13:14:12
@article{2cd2a2b9-535c-4560-86db-2d7e37635303,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background and purpose — Reduced range of motion (ROM) and spasticity are common secondary findings in cerebral palsy (CP) affecting gait, positioning, and everyday functioning. These impairments can change over time and lead to various needs for intervention. The aim of this study was to analyze the development path of the changes in hamstring length, knee extension, ankle dorsiflexion, and spasticity in hamstrings and gastrosoleus from childhood into adulthood in individuals with CP at the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I–V. Methods — A longitudinal cohort study was undertaken of 61,800 measurements in 3,223 individuals with CP, born 1990–2017 and followed for an average of 8.7 years (range 0–26). The age at examination varied between 0 and 30 years. The GMFCS levels I–V, goniometric measurements, and the modified Ashworth scale (MAS) were used for repeated assessments of motor function, ROM, and spasticity. Results — Throughout the follow-up period, knee extension and hamstring length exhibited a consistent decline across all individuals, with more pronounced decreases evident in those classified at GMFCS levels III–V. Ankle dor-siflexion demonstrated a gradual reduction from 15° to 5° (GMFCS I–IV) or 10° (GMFCS V). Spasticity levels in the hamstrings and gastrosoleus peaked between ages 5 and 7, showing a propensity to increase with higher GMFCS levels. Conclusion — Passive ROM continues to decrease to 30 years of age, most pronouncedly for knee extension. Conversely, spasticity reached its peak at a younger age, with a more notable occurrence observed in the gastrosoleus compared with the hamstrings. Less than 50% of individuals had spasticity corresponding to MAS 2–4 at any age.</p>}},
  author       = {{Cloodt, Erika and Lindgren, Anna and Rodby-Bousquet, Elisabet}},
  issn         = {{1745-3674}},
  keywords     = {{Cerebral Palsy; Foot and ankle; Knee, Range of motion; Spasticity}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{200--205}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Acta Orthopaedica}},
  title        = {{Knee and ankle range of motion and spasticity from childhood into adulthood : a longitudinal cohort study of 3,223 individuals with cerebral palsy}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.2340/17453674.2024.40606}},
  doi          = {{10.2340/17453674.2024.40606}},
  volume       = {{95}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}