Abstract Summary
Climbing is a sport requiring strength, flexibility, and coordination. Because children with cerebral palsy have deficits in each of those areas, climbing was proposed and evaluated as a recreational therapy. Participants completed a uniform set of lateral and vertical steps (8 to 16 in). Limb force generation, force assistance provided, joint excursion angles, and modeled muscle fiber lengths were examined. Results were compared with those of a typically developed control population. The CP population required more force assistance and had reduced ranges of motion, yet achieved similar/greater fiber lengths for ankle plantarflexor and knee flexor muscles.
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