This study investigated the reliability of the modified Tardieu scale in the assessment of biceps spasticity in the upper limbs of children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP). Ten children, with hemiplegic CP participated in the study: six males (mean age 9 years, SD 4 years) and four females (mean age 12 years, SD 3 years). Blinded, duplicate measures of dynamic elbow extension were performed on the hemiplegic arm at time 0 and 7 days later, using the three angular velocities described in the Tardieu scale (V1, slow; V2, speed of gravity; V3, as fast as possible). The resulting elbow joint angles were defined as R1, the angle of catch following a fast velocity stretch at either V2 or V3; and R2, the passive range of movement achieved following a slow velocity stretch at V1. Both elbow joint angle and movement angular velocity were measured by three‐dimensional kinematics. Median error in measured elbow joint angle within one session ranged from 3 to 5°. Between sessions median absolute differences in measured elbow joint angle ranged from 4 to 13°, with measurement errors of up to 25 to 30° in some participants at the fastest velocity (V3). The therapist was able to apply three significantly different angular velocities as required for the Tardieu scale (p < 0.001). However, the ranges of the three angular velocities overlapped, with fast velocities for some participants being equivalent to slow velocities for other participants. Three out of 10 participants had an intersessional difference in their R2‐R1 score of more than 20°. From this study, we concluded that the R2‐R1 value determined from the modified Tardieu scale may be of limited value in assessing biceps spasticity the upper limbs in children with hemiplegic CP.

Thirteen skeletally mature subjects who had been treated as children for idiopathic toe-walking underwent gait analysis and calf muscle strength testing at an average of 10.8 years from the last intervention. Six had had serial casting only; seven had had either a percutaneous tendo Achilles lengthening or a Baker's gastroc-soleus lengthening. Sagittal plane kinematics at the ankle was altered in 12 of the 13 subjects, but the changes were detectable visually in only 3 subjects. One subject had increased ankle plantarflexion at initial contact, but the other 12 subjects had a normal first rocker. Peak ankle dorsiflexion in stance averaged only 9°, and 11 of the subjects had a peak ankle dorsiflexion in stance greater than 2 standard deviations below normative values. Ankle dorsiflexion was also restricted on passive measures, but there was no correlation between ankle dorsiflexion non-weight-bearing and in gait. Inversion of second rocker was seen in two subjects with peak ankle dorsiflexion in stance occurring before 25% of the gait cycle. Power generation by the calf during a single heel-rise test was variable between subjects but within normative values compared with controls. The authors conclude that most subjects showed persistent changes in ankle kinematics and kinetics despite treatment but that this was not detectable visually in most subjects.