Foot Posture in Relation to Gait Parameters in Children with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy

Background: Kinetic as well as kinematic gait impairments are frequent found in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP). Abnormal foot posture is a common musculoskeletal abnormality that might interfere with the normal pattern of gait among those children. Aim: The current study intended to examine the foot posture in relation to gait parameters in children with hemiplegic CP. Patients and Methods: Fifty-two volunteer children with hemiplegic CP, aged from 7 to 11 years, were enrolled in this study. The static foot posture and gait parameters were assessed by Foot Posture Index (FPI-6) and Biodex Gait Trainer 2 TM , respectively. Results: There was a negative weak correlation between the foot posture and the walking speed, cadence, the time on the affected side and ambulation index (r>-0.25, p<0.05). A Positive weak relation was found between the step length of the affected side and foot posture (r>0.25, p<0.05). Moreover, a significant relation was recorded between the FPI-6 total score and the total distance and the coefficient of variation (r=-0.29, p>0.05 and r=0.32, p>0.05, respectively). Conclusion: Static foot posture has limited impact on gait parameters in children with hemiplegic CP. Further studies are recommended to specify the relation between dynamic foot posture and gait parameters in children with hemiplegic CP.