Impact of optimized AFOs on functional outcomes in children with spastic cerebral palsy.
Teresa Long Pierce, Alyssa LaForme Fiss, Mark Geil and 1 others
PMID 42029660WHAT IT FOUND
Children with spastic CP had higher same-day balance scores wearing OSKAR AFO-footwear combinations than standard ones, but the score difference was smaller than the difference usually considered clinically important.
Obstacle course and six-minute walk results did not show a clear difference.
Key findings
01Median total balance score was 50.50 with OSKAR AFOFCs and 47.00 with standard AFOFCs, with a significant difference (p = 0.034).
02The balance score difference was 3.50 points, below the minimally clinically important difference of 5.83, although three of 10 participants exceeded that threshold.
03There were no significant differences on the obstacle course or six-minute walk test.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
Only 10 children were studied, so the result is exploratory and could easily change in a larger group. All testing happened on one day, with no time to get used to the new AFO-footwear combinations. Both conditions were tested in the same session without a washout period, so carryover and fatigue could have affected results. Seven of 10 children walked farther in the first condition. Order or tiredness may have influenced the six-minute walk. The balance score difference was below the minimally clinically important difference, so the finding may not be a change patients notice. Participants were ambulatory children with GMFCS I to III who could walk 10 meters or greater at least 20 times, so results do not apply to less able children. The study did not measure gait or segmental alignment. No adjustment was made for multiple comparisons.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the Research Department at PCOM-GA. The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that OSKAR AFO-footwear combinations improve walking or daily function. The only significant difference was a balance score measured on the same day, the score difference was below the minimally clinically important difference, and obstacle course and six-minute walk results did not differ significantly.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →