Electrokinesiologic testing of walking in patients with spastic cerebral palsy.

Abstract

Assessment of walking ability of patients with spastic cerebral palsy has long been a problem. In an attempt to obtain more precise and objective findings, we used the Polgon goniometry method. The study involved testing the gait of 36 spastic patients. We compared clinical findings and Polgon diagrams of healthy children and spastic patients pre- and postoperatively. The results were classified as very good to good, satisfactory, and poor. The advantages of Polgon are that it is painless, does not irritate the patient, and is a simple, objective method. Its disadvantages arise from a relatively large amount of artifacts and inadequacy when it is used on spastic patients.