It is still widely believed that exaggerated stretch reflexes and increased muscle tone in
ankle plantar flexors contribute to reduced ankle joint movement during gait in children with
cerebral palsy (CP). However, no study has directly measured stretch reflex activity during
gait in these children. We investigated sensory feedback mechanisms during walking in 20
CP children and 41 control children. Stretch responses in plantar flexor muscles evoked in
stance showed an age-related decline in control but not CP children. In swing the responses …

It is still widely believed that exaggerated stretch reflex activity and the resulting increased
muscle tone in 26 ankle plantar flexors contribute to reduced ankle joint movement during
gait in children with cerebral palsy 27 (CP). However, no study has directly measured stretch
reflex activity during gait in these children. Here we 28 investigated the contribution of
sensory feedback mechanisms to ankle plantar flexor muscle activity during 29 treadmill
walking in 20 children with cerebral palsy (9.68+/-2.3 years; 7 females) and 41 control …