The development of independent walking in children with cerebral palsy.

Electromyographic and kinematic data were collected during treadmill locomotion by normal infants and infants with cerebral palsy. Locomotor patterns of the infants with cerebral palsy were similar to those of normal infants during the stage of supported locomotion, but as they matured, some of the characteristics of the infant stepping pattern, such as synchronous muscle activity with excessive muscular co-contraction and short-latency reflexes at foot contact, were retained. The normal plantigrade features of adult gait did not develop in these children.