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Effects of a dynamic versus a static prone stander on bone mineral density and behavior in four children with severe
Bjorg Gudjonsdottir1, Vicki Stemmons Mercer
1Division of Physical Therapy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
Insights
This study found that dynamic standers may improve bone mineral density in children with cerebral palsy, while both static and dynamic standers had minimal impact on behavior. Further research is recommended.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) significantly impacts motor function and bone health in children.
- Prone standing is a therapeutic intervention aimed at improving weight-bearing and bone density.
- Understanding the efficacy of different standing devices is crucial for optimizing CP management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of static and dynamic prone standers on bone mineral density (BMD) and behavioral variables in preschool-aged children with severe CP.
- To compare the impact of a conventional (static) stander versus a novel motorized (dynamic) stander.
Main Methods:
- A case series involving four preschool-aged children with severe CP.
- An eight-week standing program (30 minutes/day, 5 days/week) using either static or dynamic standers.
- BMD measurements were taken before and after the intervention.
- Behavioral variables were assessed during separate test sessions with both stander types.
Main Results:
- Increases in BMD were observed in children using the dynamic stander and one child using the static stander.
- Behavioral variables, including state, reactivity, goal directedness, and attention span, showed little to no change regardless of stander type.
- The dynamic stander's intermittent weight-bearing feature may contribute to BMD improvements.
Conclusions:
- Dynamic prone standers show potential for enhancing bone mineral density in children with severe CP.
- The type of prone stander used appears to have a limited effect on behavioral outcomes.
- Further research is warranted to explore the long-term effects and optimal use of static and dynamic standers in this population.
Purpose:
In this case series, we examined how two types of prone stander affected bone mineral density and behavioral variables in four children of preschool age with severe cerebral palsy.
Methods:
In phase one, four children of preschool age participated in an eight-week standing program, standing for 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Two children stood in a conventional stander, and two stood in a new type of motorized (dynamic) stander that provides intermittent weight bearing. Measurements of bone mineral density before and after the program revealed increases in bone mineral density in both children who used a dynamic stander and one child who used a static stander. In phase two, all four subjects stood in both types of stander during three separate test sessions.
Results:
Measures of behavioral variables, including behavioral state, reactivity, goal directedness, and attention span, indicated little or no effect of type of stander on behavior.
Conclusions:
These results suggest there is potential value in additional research concerning the effects of static and dynamic standers on bone mineral density and behavior in children with cerebral palsy.
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