pISSN : 3058-6941 eISSN: 3058-695X
Open Access, Peer-reviewed
Jae-Ho Lee, Myung-Suk Ko
5(1).59.69 Epub 7th November, 2000
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to investigate body alignment and gait parameters of children with cerebral palsy using anterior walker, 2-wheel posterior walker, and 4-wheel posterior walker. Subjects were 12 cerebral palsied children who were treated as outpatient at Seoul Community Rehabilitation Center from November 23, 1999 to December 2, 1999. Joint angle was determined by video camera and computer program. Repeated measures ANOVA was used for cadence, gait velocity, and joint angle analysis. The results as follows. 1. Cadence decreased in 2-wheel posterior walker group compared with anterior walker and 4-wheel posterior walker group. 2. Gait velocity decreased in 2-wheel posterior walker group compared with anterior walker and 2-wheel posterior walker group. 3. Trunk flexion angle and hip joint angle decreased in 2-wheel posterior walker and 4-wheel posterior walker group compared with anterior walker group. This statistically significant differences indicated that cerebral palsied children ambulated in better posture in posterior walker groups. The results of this study suggested that body alignment and gait parameters were intluenced by the type and number of wheels of walker. Therefore, these factors should be taken into account when type of walker is selected during the rehabilitation process.
Keywords
Anterior Walker Posterior Walker 4-Wheel Posterior Walker