Walking with big steps to test the ability to lengthen the hamstrings during gait in children with spastic cerebral palsy

摘要

During spontaneous gait, short hamstrings have been shown to be a factor of excessive knee flexion at initial contact (IC) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) [1]. Indeed, the hamstrings length is maximal just before IC when the difference between hip flexion and knee flexion (DHKF) is maximal [2]. Increasing step length during walking is associated with an increase of DHFK [3]. Knowing the functional ability to lengthen hamstrings during gait appears to be of importance in children with CP to help taking decision about surgical hamstrings lengthening.