The Effectiveness of the Use of Custom-Made Foot Orthotics on Temporal-Spatial Gait Parameters in Children With Spastic Cerebral Palsy

This study examined the effects of custom-made foot orthotics on the temporal-spatial gait parameters in children with cerebral palsy. Twenty spastic bilateral cerebral palsy (spastic CP) children (11 boys and 9 girls) participated in this study. GAITRite was used to examine the velocity, cadence, step length differential, step length, stride length, stance time, single support time, double support time, base of support, and toe angle while walking with and without foot orthotics. The differences in temporal-spatial parameters were analyzed using paired t-test. The significance level was set at.05. The velocity, cadence, both step lengths, both stride lengths, both bases of support and right toe angle significantly increased when the children with spastic CP with foot orthotics compared to without foot orthotics (p<.05). The step length differential between the two extremities, left stance time and left single support time, significantly decreased with foot orthotics (p<.05). Right stance time, right single support time, both double support times and left toe angle showed little change (p>.05). This study demonstrated that foot orthotics were beneficial for children with spastic CP as a gait assistance tool