Gait Features in Children With Hemiparetic Cerebral Palsy Based on Pedobarography Findings

BACKGROUND: Hemiparetic cerebral palsy (CP) is characterized by pronounced movement asymmetry and impaired weight-bearing function of the affected lower limb. Despite the availability of gait assessment methods, accurate quantitative parameters that capture the unique characteristics of hemiparetic gait in children have not been thoroughly investigated. Pedobarography is a modern instrumental method for analyzing pressure distribution on the plantar surface of the foot, assessing temporal and spatial gait parameters, and detecting load asymmetry, as well as primary and secondary gait impairments. AIM: The work aimed to assess the clinical value of pedobarography in children with hemiparetic CP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a single-center, observational, retrospective, continuous study. Between November 2021 and December 2024, 86 pedobarographic profiles of children with confirmed hemiparetic cerebral palsy aged 6 to 16 years were analyzed during initial examinations at the Department of Pediatric Rehabilitation of the Russian Children's Clinical Hospital, a branch of Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University. RESULTS: The most significant pedobarographic markers in children with hemiparetic CP were identified. CONCLUSIONS: The pedobarography findings can be used to develop individualized rehabilitation programs for improving motor function and optimizing static and dynamic parameters in this pediatric population, as well as to prevent secondary musculoskeletal complications (such as joint stiffness, deformities of the paretic lower limb, pelvic misalignment, and scoliosis) in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy.