Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 25, 2026
Author Spotlight: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined with Movement Observation in Cerebral Palsy
Published on: August 9, 2024
Motor function levels and pelvic parameters in walking or ambulating children with cerebral palsy
J-C Bernard1, J Deceuninck2, S Leroy-Coudeville1
1Service de MPR pédiatrique, Croix-Rouge française, centre médico-chirurgical de réadaptation des massues, 92, rue Édmond-Locard, 69322 Lyon cedex 05, France.
Background:
In children with cerebral palsy, spinal equilibrium and pelvic strategies may vary according to the functional status.
Objectives:
To study the relationship between motor function and pelvic and spinal parameters in a population of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (rated from level I to level IV on Gross Motor Function Classification System [GMFCS]). A sagittal X-ray of the spine in the standing position was analyzed with Optispine(®) software.
Results:
The study population comprised 114 children and adolescents (mean [range] age: 12.35 [4-17]). For the study population as a whole, there were significant overall correlations between the GMFCS level on one hand and pelvic incidence and pelvic tilt (PT) on the other (P=0.013 and 0.021, respectively).
Discussion:
Pelvic parameters vary according to the GMFCS level but do not appear to affect spinal curvature. The sacrum is positioned in front of the head of the femur (i.e. negative PT) in GMFCS level I and progressively moves backwards (i.e. positive PT) in GMFCS levels II, III and IV.
