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The effect of physiotherapy on sit-to-stand movements in a child with spastic diplegia
Ryo Yonetsu1, Junichi Shimizu, John Surya
1School of Comprehensive Rehabilitation, Osaka Prefecture University, Osaka, Japan. yonetsu@rehab.osakafu-u.ac.jp
Insights
Physiotherapy improved sit-to-stand (STS) movements in a child with cerebral palsy. Objective kinematic data showed faster STS duration and better joint motion after treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric physical therapy
- Biomechanics of movement
- Cerebral palsy research
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) affects motor function, impacting daily activities like sit-to-stand (STS).
- Objective kinematic assessment provides precise data on movement quality.
- Understanding the impact of physiotherapy (PT) on STS is crucial for functional improvement in children with CP.
Observation:
- A 4.5-year-old child with spastic diplegia underwent kinematic analysis of STS movements.
- Motion analysis captured joint angles and movement duration before and after a PT intervention.
- Specific focus on ankle dorsiflexion, knee and hip flexion, and trunk movement patterns.
Findings:
- STS movement duration decreased from 3.06s to 2.44s post-PT.
- Pre-PT showed excessive flexion in knee, hip, and trunk during STS; these patterns were reduced post-PT.
- Ankle dorsiflexion range improved significantly from -25 degrees to 6 degrees, indicating better functional mobility.
Implications:
- Objective kinematic data confirms the positive effects of PT on STS in a child with CP.
- Improved STS mechanics suggest enhanced functional independence and reduced risk of secondary complications.
- This case highlights the value of motion analysis in tailoring and verifying physiotherapy interventions for pediatric CP.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to assess sit-to-stand (STS) movements of a child with cerebral palsy before and after physiotherapy (PT), based on objective kinematic data.
Methods:
A child with cerebral spastic diplegia, aged 4 years and 6 months, and had no prior surgery, was the subject. In order to assess the STS movements before and after PT, a motion analysis system was used. STS movements data before and after PT which included the total duration of STS movement and angular movement of each joint were collected and compared.
Results:
The total duration of STS movement was 3.06 s before PT and 2.44 s after PT. As for angular movement before PT, knee, hip joint, and trunk were flexed strongly just after ankle joint was in plantarflexion, in shifting the center of mass forward. In contrast, these flexion patterns were less noticeable after PT. In addition, standing postures showed marked improvement. Range of motion of ankle dorsiflexion was -25 degrees before PT; after PT, it was 6 degrees.
Conclusion:
These findings lead us to conclude that the effect of PT on STS movement before and after PT showed objective kinematic data.
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