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Relationship between static postural control and the level of functional abilities in children with cerebral palsy
Sílvia L Pavão1, Gabriela S Nunes2, Adriana N Santos1
1Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brasil.
Insights
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) and poor postural control require more caregiver assistance for daily activities. This highlights the link between body function impairments and functional limitations in CP.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Science
Background:
- Children with cerebral palsy (CP) often exhibit postural control deficits.
- These deficits can significantly impair functional performance in daily living activities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between static standing postural control and functional ability levels in children with CP.
- To quantify the association between center of pressure (CoP) measures and functional outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated static standing postural control in 10 children with CP (Gross Motor Function Scale levels I-II) using a force platform.
- Measured anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) CoP displacement, area, and velocity.
- Assessed functional abilities using the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) scores (self-care, mobility, social function, caregiver assistance).
Main Results:
- A strong negative correlation was found between ML CoP displacement, CoP area/velocity, and PEDI self-care and caregiver assistance scores.
- A moderate negative correlation existed between CoP area and PEDI mobility caregiver assistance scores.
- Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Conclusions:
- Children with CP demonstrating higher CoP oscillation values exhibited lower caregiver assistance scores for activities of daily living (ADL).
- Impaired postural control in children with CP is associated with increased dependence on caregivers.
- These findings underscore the impact of body structure and function impairments on activity limitations in CP.
Background:
Postural control deficits can impair functional performance in children with cerebral palsy (CP) in daily living activities.
Objective:
To verify the relationship between standing static postural control and the functional ability level in children with CP.
Method:
The postural control of 10 children with CP (gross motor function levels I and II) was evaluated during static standing on a force platform for 30 seconds. The analyzed variables were the anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) displacement of the center of pressure (CoP) and the area and velocity of the CoP oscillation. The functional abilities were evaluated using the mean Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) scores, which evaluated self-care, mobility and social function in the domains of functional abilities and caregiver assistance.
Results:
Spearman's correlation test found a relationship between postural control and functional abilities. The results showed a strong negative correlation between the variables of ML displacement of CoP, the area and velocity of the CoP oscillation and the PEDI scores in the self-care and caregiver assistance domains. Additionally, a moderate negative correlation was found between the area of the CoP oscillation and the mobility scores in the caregiver assistance domain. We used a significance level of 5% (p <0.05).
Conclusions:
We observed that children with cerebral palsy with high CoP oscillation values had lower caregiver assistance scores for activities of daily living (ADL) and consequently higher levels of caregiver dependence. These results demonstrate the repercussions of impairments to the body structure and function in terms of the activity levels of children with CP such that postural control impairments in these children lead to higher requirements for caregiver assistance.
