STRATEGIES FOR INCREASING WALKING SPEED IN DIPLEGIC CEREBRAL-PALSY

The study was designed to determine the strategies used by diplegic su bjects to change walking speed. Two groups, limited community ambulato rs and community ambulators, were compared with controls to determine if ability to increase speed would decrease as a function of motor imp airment. Compared with matched controls, diplegic subjects were slower and relied more on cadence to increase speed. The ability to change v elocity and stride length was significantly less in the diplegic group s than in controls and accounted for the wider difference in their fas t walking velocity. Velocity and stride length decreased, whereas stan ce time increased as a function of motor involvement. In the limited c ommunity ambulators, pelvic excursion was increased, whereas hip and k nee excursion was reduced. By assessing fast speed, differences betwee n controls and diplegic groups became more apparent.