Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026
Sit-to-stand-and-walk from 120% Knee Height: A Novel Approach to Assess Dynamic Postural Control Independent of Lead-limb
Published on: August 30, 2016
Corporal oscillation during static biped posture in children with cerebral palsy
J C Ferrari Corrêa1, F Ishida Corrêa, R Calhes Franco
1Department of Physical Therapy, UNINOVE, Brazil. jcorrea@uninove.br
Insights
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) exhibit greater center of pressure (COP) displacements and speed compared to healthy children. Sensory deficits in CP likely contribute to these balance control differences.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) is a common motor disorder affecting balance and coordination.
- Assessing postural control is crucial for understanding functional limitations in children with CP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the antero-posterior (AP) and medium-lateral (ML) displacements and speed of the center of pressure (COP) in children with spastic diparetic CP and healthy children.
- To investigate the relationship between sensory deficits and postural control in children with CP.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of COP displacements (AP and ML) and speed in two groups: 10 healthy children and 10 children with spastic diparetic CP (ages 5-10).
- Data collection using COP measurements.
- Statistical analysis with ANOVA and Tukey's HSD post hoc test (p < 0.05 significance level).
Main Results:
- Children with CP showed significantly higher amplitude of AP and ML COP displacements compared to healthy children (p = 0.002).
- The speed of AP and ML COP displacements was also significantly higher in children with CP (p = 0.00).
- No significant difference in displacement speed between AP and ML directions was found in either group.
Conclusions:
- Children with spastic diparetic CP have impaired postural control, characterized by increased COP displacement amplitude and speed.
- Sensory deficits are a significant contributing factor to the observed balance impairments in children with CP.
- These findings highlight the importance of addressing sensory processing in rehabilitation strategies for children with CP.
Abstract:
This previous study was performed to compare the antero-posterior and medium-lateral displacements and the speed of displacement of the COP of healthy children and compare them to children with cerebral palsy type spastic diparesy. This study had the participation of 10 healthy children (6 girls and 4 boys), between 5 and 10 (7,6 +/- 2,1) years old, and other 10 children, all diagnosed as CP type spastic diparesy, (5 girls and 5 boys), between 5 e 10 (7,3 +/- 1,8) years old. To collect the data, we used the antero-posterior (AP) e medium-lateral (ML) displacements of the COP The parameters were compared by the variance analysis (ANOVA), and the post hoc test was Tukey's HSD. The level of significance adopted was p < 0,05. After the collect of data and statistical analysis, it was observed that the medium amplitude of the AP and ML displacements was higher in CP children, related to the healthy children: AP-F(I,18)= 1,66 (p = 0,002), ML-F1,18)= 3,36 (p = 0,002). As the amplitude, the speed of the displacements was also different among the children. The speed of the displacements, AP and ML was higher in CP children - F(1,36) = 0,009 (p = 0,00). There were no differences between the speed of AP and ML displacements, neither in the healthy children, nor in CP ones - F(1,36)= 0,00 (p = 0,87). The sensorial deficit found in CP children is an important issue in the increase of the amplitude and speed of displacement of the COP.
