Continuous passive motion of the ankle joint for treating talipes valgus in children with cerebral palsy / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To observe the clinical utility of continuous passive movement (CPM) of the ankle joint in treating children with cerebral palsy and foot valgus.Methods:Thirty-six children with cerebral palsy and foot valgus were divided into a control group, a non-continuous passive exercise (NCPM) group and a CPM group with 12 children (24 feet) in each group. The NCPM and CPM groups were given conventional rehabilitation treatment for the first 20 days and then home rehabilitation for a further 10 days. The CPM group additionally received CPM treatment during the first 20 days. The control group was only given home rehabilitation for 30 days. Each subject′s plantar pressures were measured along with GMFM-88 scores for "standing" and "walking, running and jumping" before the treatment and 2 and 4 months later.Results:There was no significant difference in the average values of the output measures among the control group before and after the treatment. After four months, significantly better improvement was observed in the average percentages of medial forefoot (MMF) pressure among the NCPM group compared with the CPM group. There were also significant differences between the two groups in the [initial contact phase(ICP) + forefoot contact phase(FFCP)] and foot flat phase (FFP) percentages, as well as in the standing, running and jumping scores. Significant differences were also observed between the NCPM and CPM groups in terms of the average percentage of FFP pressure and their average standing scores, but not in the average percentage of MMF or the average jumping and running scores.Conclusions:CPM usefully supplements conventional comprehensive rehabilitation therapy in improving the walking ability of children with cerebral palsy and talipes valgus.