Which statement about muscle co-activation in gait for children with cerebral palsy is correct?

Which statement about muscle co-activation in gait for children with cerebral palsy is correct?

• A. True; decreased co-activation
• B. True; increased co-activation
• C. False; decreased co-activation
• D. False; increased co-activation

Answer: (D)

In cerebral palsy gait, muscle co-activation around joints is typically increased. This means that opposing muscles (agonists and antagonists) fire together more than in typical development. The neural control systems in CP often have reduced ability to selectively activate a single muscle group due to impaired motor planning, abnormal reflex drives, and spasticity. As a result, during walking you’ll see simultaneous activation of muscles crossing the same joint, which helps stabilize the joint but at the cost of efficiency. For example, there may be co-contraction of ankle plantarflexors and dorsiflexors during stance, or knee flexors and extensors firing together during transitions, leading to a stiffer, slower gait with less range of motion and higher energy expenditure. So the correct concept is that co-activation is increased in CP gait, rather than decreased.

In cerebral palsy gait, muscle co-activation around joints is typically increased. This means that opposing muscles (agonists and antagonists) fire together more than in typical development. The neural control systems in CP often have reduced ability to selectively activate a single muscle group due to impaired motor planning, abnormal reflex drives, and spasticity. As a result, during walking you’ll see simultaneous activation of muscles crossing the same joint, which helps stabilize the joint but at the cost of efficiency. For example, there may be co-contraction of ankle plantarflexors and dorsiflexors during stance, or knee flexors and extensors firing together during transitions, leading to a stiffer, slower gait with less range of motion and higher energy expenditure. So the correct concept is that co-activation is increased in CP gait, rather than decreased.