Assessment of postural control in children with cerebral palsy: a review

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Cerebral palsy (CP) significantly impacts motor development, particularly postural control (PC).
• Understanding PC in children with CP is crucial for improving functional abilities and quality of life.
• Existing research provides a foundation, but gaps remain in specific assessment methods and functional contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing literature on postural control (PC) in children with cerebral palsy (CP).
• To describe the methodologies employed in assessing PC in this population.
• To outline the performance of children with CP in postural control tasks and identify research gaps.

Main Methods:

• An extensive literature search was conducted using keywords: postural control, cerebral palsy, children, balance, and functionality.
• Databases were searched to identify relevant studies.
• A total of 1065 papers were identified, with 25 meeting the inclusion criteria for the review.

Main Results:

• Postural control (PC) is a widely studied area in children with cerebral palsy (CP), utilizing reliable assessment methods.
• A clear association between postural control and functional outcomes was observed in the reviewed studies.
• The review identified a scarcity of research employing scales and functional tests for PC assessment, and limited exploration of PC during daily activities.

Conclusions:

• While PC is extensively studied in children with CP, there is a need for more research utilizing functional assessments and evaluating PC in real-world activities.
• Future research focusing on these areas could significantly enhance our understanding and management of PC in children with CP.
• Integrating functional tests and daily activity analysis into PC research promises to yield valuable insights for this population.