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Event-related Potentials During Target-response Tasks to Study Cognitive Processes of Upper Limb Use in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy
Published on: January 11, 2016
Prospective longitudinal study of gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy
Jeanine M Voorman1, Annet J Dallmeijer, Dirk L Knol
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. reva@vumc.nl
Insights
Gross motor function remained stable in most children with cerebral palsy (CP). However, poor selective motor control indicated a higher risk of decline, guiding targeted interventions for children with CP.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Neurology
- Movement Science
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) affects gross motor function in children.
- Understanding the progression of motor function is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the 2-year course of gross motor function in children with CP aged 9-15 years.
- To investigate the relationship between motor function changes, impairments, and age.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study involving 110 children with CP (mean age 11.2 years).
- Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) was used to assess motor function.
- Analysis considered factors like limb distribution, motor control, muscle strength, and range of motion.
Main Results:
- Overall GMFM scores remained stable, with no significant differences between Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels.
- Significant differences in motor function course were observed based on limb distribution, selective motor control, muscle strength, hip/knee range of motion, hamstring spasticity, and education type.
- Poorer selective motor control was the most significant predictor of a less favorable gross motor function trajectory.
Conclusions:
- Specific impairment characteristics can identify children with CP at risk of gross motor function deterioration.
- These findings can guide the development of targeted interventions for at-risk children.
Objectives:
To describe the course of gross motor function over 2 years in children with cerebral palsy (CP) aged 9 to 15 years, and to investigate its relationship with impairments and age.
Design:
Prospective cohort study.
Setting:
Rehabilitation department of a university medical center in the Netherlands.
Participants:
Seventy boys and 40 girls with CP (mean age +/- standard deviation, 11.2+/-1.7y).
Interventions:
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measure:
The Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM).
Results:
GMFM item scores were stable over the 2 years for the whole group. No difference was found in the course of GMFM item scores between the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels. We found significant differences in the course of GMFM item scores (corrected for GMFCS) for the different levels of limb distribution, selective motor control, muscle strength, range of motion in the hip and knee, spasticity of the hamstrings, and type of education. There were significantly larger decreases in the more severely affected children. Multivariable analysis showed that a poor selective motor control was the most important determinant of a less favorable course of gross motor function.
Conclusions:
Some impairment characteristics may be used to identify children who are at risk for deterioration in gross motor function, and may serve as a guide for interventions.
