Influence of orthosis on the foot progression angle in children with spastic cerebral palsy

• We evaluated CP children in gait analysis with/without ankle foot orthosis (AFO).
• We evaluated the effect of AFO on the foot progression angle.
• AFOs improved gait, as reflected by improved temporal parameters.
• AFO also increased internal rotation of the feet in diplegic CP children.
• These findings might be explained by anatomical and dynamic features during gait.

We retrospectively assessed the effect of ankle–foot orthosis (AFO) on the foot progression angle (FPA) of 97 children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) who had undergone comprehensive computer-based gait analysis both barefoot and with their orthosis, during the same session. The physical examination results and the gait study temporal and kinematic parameters comprise the study data. We focused on the peak FPA reached during stance and swing phases and at mid-stance and mid-swing, and also measured the transverse rotations of the pelvis, the femur and the tibia. AFOs improved gait, as reflected by improved temporal parameters, but they also increased internal rotation of the feet in diplegic CP children by 4.29 degrees for mid-stance, and by 3.72 degrees for mid-swing. The correlation between components of the rotational profile and FPA was significant for the diplegic group. AFOs did not produce any noteworthy differences between walking barefoot and walking with the brace in the hemiplegic group in what concerns FPA. Children with diplegic CP who use AFOs walk with increased internal FPAs in their orthoses. These findings might be explained by anatomical attributes as well as dynamic features during gait.