Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Dammam, Dammam, KSA | [b] Faculty of Physical Therapy, Department of Physical Therapy for Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt | [c] Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, KSA | [d] Department of Physical Therapy, CHS, University of Sharjah, UAE | [e] Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Alaa I. Ibrahim, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Dammam, 2435/31451 Dammam, KSA. Tel.: +20 966508840577; Fax: +20 96638572872; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Aims:To investigate the effect of foot wedge and carrying weighted bag on loading the paretic lower limb in children with hemiparetic CP. Design:Cross-sectional study. Participants:A convenient sample of 18 ambulant children with spastic hemiparetic CP was evaluated. Fifteen matched normal children acted as a control group. Methods:Using two calibrated scales, measurements of weight supported on each lower limb were obtained under four different standing conditions. Results:During quiet standing, the percentage of weight supported on the paretic limb was 35.59% with symmetry index equals 0.57. Standing with the non-paretic foot is placed on a lateral foot wedge, was the best condition that increased the percentage of weight supported on the paretic limb to 47.18% and improved the symmetry index to 0.90. Non-significant improvement of symmetry index 0.61 was recorded when carrying a weighted bag with the paretic hand, but carrying with the non-paretic hand unnecessarily loads the non-paretic limb and further decreases the symmetry index to 0.49. Conclusions:Using a lateral foot wedge beneath the non-paretic foot and carrying a weighted bag with the paretic hand improve the loading function of the paretic limb and relief the non-paretic limb from overloading.
