Shoulder strength profiles in children with and without brachial PLEXUS PALSY

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Sylvain Brochard1, Katharine Alter, Diane Damiano

  • 1CHRU de Brest, Hôpital Morvan, Médecine physique et de réadaptation, 5 Avenue Foch, 29609 Brest Cedex, France.

Muscle & Nerve
|December 6, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Children with brachial plexus palsy (BPP) exhibit shoulder muscle strength imbalances. Documenting these strength profiles is crucial for predicting potential deformities in pediatric BPP patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Orthopedics
  • Neuromuscular Disorders
  • Biomechanics

Background:

  • Brachial plexus palsy (BPP) affects shoulder development and function.
  • Understanding muscle strength and balance is key in pediatric BPP assessment.
  • Bilateral shoulder strength was compared between children with BPP and typically developing (TD) children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize bilateral shoulder strength in children with BPP.
  • To analyze antagonist/agonist muscle pair balance in pediatric BPP.
  • To correlate shoulder strength with active range of motion.

Main Methods:

  • Maximal isometric shoulder strength was measured bilaterally in 15 children with BPP and 11 TD children.
  • Strength was assessed in flexion/extension, internal/external rotation, and abduction/adduction using a hand-held dynamometer.
  • The Mallet score was used to evaluate the correlation between strength and active range of motion.

Main Results:

  • Children with BPP showed strength asymmetry across all shoulder muscles.
  • TD children exhibited significant strength asymmetry in flexors and abductors.
  • Extensors and external rotators were weakest in BPP, causing sagittal and transverse plane imbalances.

Conclusions:

  • Shoulder strength profiles in children with BPP are significantly asymmetrical.
  • Muscle imbalances in BPP affect shoulder function and may predict deformity.
  • Documenting strength profiles aids in managing pediatric BPP and preventing deformities.
Abstract

Keywords:
brachial plexus palsychildrenimbalanceshoulderstrength

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