Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Growth and Development Disorders in Pediatrics

Background: Hemiparetic cerebral palsy is a neuro-impairment with unilateral motor disability caused by a non-progressive lesion of the immature brain. Aim of the study: To investigate if the distribution of foot pressure during standing is affected in children with spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsy. Subjects and Methods: Twenty hemiparetic cerebral palsy (12 boys and 8 girls) selected from outpatient clinic of faculty of physical therapy, Cairo University, and twenty normal children (9 boys and 11 girls) were contributed in this study, aged from 3 to 6 years.The study was done in Orthomedics clinics. Sigma-R foot scan plate system was used to measure the foot pressure distribution in standing, maximum and average pressure values in right and left sides in both groups were measured. Results: Unpaired t test was conducted for comparison of maximum and average pressure between groups.There was a statistically significant difference in maximum and average pressure between groups (p = 0.0001). Paired t test was conducted for comparison of maximum and average pressure between both sides in each group. In normal children there was non-significant difference in maximum and average pressure between both sides, in hemiparetic children there were significant difference in maximum and average pressure between affected and less affected sides. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that there is a significant difference between both maximum and average pressure of affected side and less affected side in hemiparetic children and normal children.Thus, the distribution of foot pressure should be considered in the assessment and rehabilitation program of physical therapy for children with spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsy

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