A cross-sectional design study will be carried out to explore the morphological muscle properties and alterations in muscle composition on a macroscopic level in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). Muscle composition will be assessed using quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (qMRI) and shear wave elastography (SWE), while macroscopic muscle size properties will be evaluated through 'Three-dimensional freehand ultrasound (3DfUS).
Children (boys/girls) with congenital brain lesion, confirmed with neuro-imaging such as MRI
At high-risk for CP or diagnosed spastic type of CP
(Suspected) Gross Motor Function Classification Scale (GMFCS) Level I-III
Uni or bilateral involvement
Presence of dyskinesia or ataxia
Severe co-morbidities (cognitive problems)
BTX treatment in the gastrocnemius in the past 10 months
Previous surgery at the investigated muscles.
Children with spastic cerebral palsy, who have routine follow-up care at the CP reference center of the University Hospitals Leuven. Typically developing children are recruited through the social (family and friends) and professional (colleagues) network of involved researchers and thesis students, who approach participants through flyers, social media.
Cohort
Prospective
Not listed
Evaluation of the muscle volume of the medial gastrocnemius muscle
Estimation of the muscle belly volume by 3DfUS. Muscle volume will be normalized to anthropometric growth.
Evaluation of the muscle length of the medial gastrocnemius muscle
Estimation of the muscle belly length, tendon length and muscle tendon unit complex length by 3DfUS. Muscle lengths will be normalized to anthropometric growth
Evaluation of the muscle echo-intensity of the medial gastrocnemius muscle
Estimation of the echo-intensity by 3DfUS.
Evaluation of the fat fraction of the medial gastrocnemius muscle.
Estimation of the fat fraction by Dixon sequence (MRI): a comparison of muscle fat fraction between children with CP and healthy age-matched TD controls in different age groups.
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