The efficacy of tone-reducing features in orthotics on the gait of children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy

This study analyzed the effects of tone-reducing features in ankle-foot ort hotics (AFOs) on the gait of eight children (ages 4-11 years) with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, A standard gait analysis was performed on each sub ject in each of three trial orthotics and in a baseline shoes-only conditio n. A 4-week accommodation period was allotted for each of the three devices : a standard hinged AFO, an AFO with tone-reducing features, and a supramal leolar orthotic with tone-reducing features. Most significant differences w ere at the ankle, between free-ankle and planter flexion-limiting condition s. No significant functional changes in gait were evident with the addition of tone-reducing properties to a standard articulating AFO.