The Influence of Crouch Gait on Sagittal Trunk Position and Lower Lumbar Spinal Loading in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Crouch gait is a common gait pattern in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and manifests primarily as knee flexion outside normal limits for a significant proportion of the stance phase of gait [1]. Crouch gait has been reported to be present in more than 45% of children with CP with Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level I and in more than 60% with GMFCS levels II to IV [2]. This type of walking moves the ground reaction force (GRF) away from the hip and knee centers and increases the internal extensor joint moments [3], requiring greater energy expenditure compared to a straighter gait pattern [4,5].
Source: Gait and Posture - Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Source Type: research