Plantar pressure distribution and foot morphology of children with Cerebral Palsy and typical development

ABSTRACT Cerebral Palsy (CP) is characterized as movement and posture disorders that cause performance limitations in activities easily performed by children with typical development (TD). Our study aimed to compare plantar pressure distribution and foot morphology between children with CP and TD, using an observational analytical research, of cross-sectional and comparative type, with 32 children between 6 and 11 years old, paired by gender and age, distributed in study group (SG) and control group (CG). We assessed the plantar distribution with the Footwork electronic baropodometry system and classified foot type by the Chippaux-Smirak Index. The SG obtained greater values on anterior weight-bearing and lower on posterior weight-bearing (p=0.02). In addition, SG showed lower mean pressure values for right (p=0.00) and left feet (p=0.01), when compared with the CG. Most children showed the same type of foot bilaterally, with the prevalence of flat feet in SG and cavus feet in the CG. Children with spastic CP who presented preserved locomotor performance, or with some dysfunction, revealed antepulsion posture, smaller mean plantar pressures, and flat foot prevalence when compared with children with TD.

摘要：脑瘫（Cerebral Palsy, CP）以运动与姿势障碍为特征，可导致正常发育儿童可轻松完成的日常活动出现功能受限。本研究为横断面比较性观察分析研究，旨在对比脑瘫患儿与典型发育（typical development, TD）儿童的足底压力分布与足部形态。研究共纳入32名6至11岁儿童，按性别与年龄进行配对，分为研究组（Study Group, SG）与对照组（Control Group, CG）。本研究采用Footwork电子足底压力测量系统评估足底压力分布，并通过奇保-斯米拉克指数（Chippaux-Smirak Index）对足型进行分类。研究组的前足负重占比更高，后足负重占比更低（p=0.02）；相较于对照组，研究组左右足的平均足底压力值均显著更低（右足p=0.00，左足p=0.01）。多数儿童双侧足部类型一致，研究组以扁平足居多，对照组则以高弓足为主。相较于典型发育儿童，伴运动功能保留或存在轻度功能障碍的痉挛型脑瘫患儿，表现出前冲姿势、平均足底压力更低，且扁平足患病率更高。