Abstract
Background
Co-contraction is an impairment commonly reported in children with cerebral palsy.
However, co-contraction has not been investigated during passive movements which may
be used to assess spasticity in children with cerebral palsy. The purpose of this
study was to examine the frequency of co-contraction and the relationship between
reflex activity and co-contraction during passive movements of the knee joint in children
with cerebral palsy.
Methods
Twenty children with cerebral palsy participated in this study. One set of ten continuous
passive movements from 90° of knee flexion to 25° of knee flexion and from 25° of
knee flexion to 90° of knee flexion was completed at 15°/s, 90°/s, and 180°/s. The
mean percentage of the range of motion of each movement and mean percentage of the
number of movements which exhibited electromyographic activity of the vastus lateralis,
medial hamstrings, and co-contraction were calculated for each set of movements.
Findings
The number of the movement repetitions and the percentage of the range of motion which
exhibited co-contraction were considerable regardless of the direction and speed of
motion. Significant positive correlations were found between the percentage of the
passive range of motion with medial hamstrings activation, vastus lateralis activation,
and co-contraction during passive movements into both knee flexion and knee extension
at a velocity of 15°/s, 90°/s, and 180°/s (P < 0.001).
Interpretation
Co-contraction commonly occurs during passive movements of the knee in children with
cerebral palsy. The presence of co-contraction may influence measurements of spasticity
which use passive movements to assess spasticity.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 17, 2007
Accepted:
August 1,
2007
Received:
May 1,
2007
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
