Gastrocnemius muscle-tendon interaction during walking in typically-developing adults and children, and in children with spastic cerebral palsy

We observed lengthening of the gastrocnemius muscle bellies in children with SCP during single support, a phase of the gait cycle in which the muscle is reported consistently to be active. Repeated lengthening of muscle bellies while they are active may lead to muscle damage and have implications for the natural history of gait in this group.