Effectiveness of foot wedge and carrying weighted bag on loading the paretic lower limb in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy

AIMS: To investigate the effect of foot wedge and carrying weighted bag on loading the paretic lower limb in children with hemiparetic CP. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: A convenient sample of 18 ambulant children with spastic hemiparetic CP was evaluated. Fifteen matched normal children acted as a control group. METHODS: Using two calibrated scales, measurements of weight supported on each lower limb were obtained under four different standing conditions. RESULTS: During quiet standing, the percentage of weight supported on the paretic limb was 35.59% with symmetry index equals 0.57. Standing with the non-paretic foot is placed on a lateral foot wedge, was the best condition that increased the percentage of weight supported on the paretic limb to 47.18% and improved the symmetry index to 0.90. Non-significant improvement of symmetry index 0.61 was recorded when carrying a weighted bag with the paretic hand, but carrying with the non-paretic hand unnecessarily loads the non-paretic limb and further decreases the symmetry index to 0.49. CONCLUSIONS: Using a lateral foot wedge beneath the non-paretic foot and carrying a weighted bag with the paretic hand improve the loading function of the paretic limb and relief the non-paretic limb from overloading.