Postural control during reaching in preterm children with cerebral palsy

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pediatrics
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Cerebral palsy (CP) affects motor control, impacting daily activities.
• Preterm birth is a significant risk factor for CP, particularly spastic hemiplegia and bilateral spastic CP.
• Understanding postural control deficits is crucial for targeted interventions in children with CP.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess postural control during reaching in preterm children with CP.
• To compare postural control between spastic hemiplegia and bilateral CP subtypes.
• To investigate the relationship between postural control and functional disability.

Main Methods:

• Electromyogram (EMG) and kinematic recordings were used to assess postural control.
• 58 preterm children with CP (2-11 years) and 29 typically developing children participated.
• Participants included those with spastic hemiplegia and bilateral spastic CP.

Main Results:

• Most children with CP demonstrated intact 'direction-specificity' in postural control.
• Children with CP exhibited abnormal muscle recruitment (top-down) and impaired modulation of muscle activity.
• Postural control deficits were more pronounced in bilateral CP than in spastic hemiplegia and correlated with disability.

Conclusions:

• Children with CP have specific deficits in postural muscle recruitment and modulation.
• These findings highlight the need for tailored rehabilitation strategies addressing these motor control issues.
• Postural control assessment can inform the management of functional limitations in children with CP.