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Relationship Between Functional Level and Muscle Thickness in Young Children With Cerebral Palsy

Yeo Reum Choe1, Joo Sup Kim1, Kee Hoon Kim1

  • 1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Bundang Jesaeng General Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.

Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
|May 17, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Muscle thickness in the rectus femoris and gastrocnemius muscles is lower in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Greater muscle thickness correlates with better functional levels in young children with CP.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Rehabilitation
  • Neuromuscular Disorders
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders affecting movement and posture, impacting muscle development.
  • Muscle thickness (MT) is a key indicator of muscle health and function.
  • Understanding the relationship between muscle morphology and functional outcomes in children with CP is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between muscle thickness (MT) of the rectus femoris (RF) and gastrocnemius (GCM) muscles and functional levels in young children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP).

Main Methods:

  • Ultrasound imaging was used to measure the MT of the RF, medial gastrocnemius (GCM), and lateral GCM in 26 children with spastic CP (aged 3-6 years) and 25 typically developing (TD) children.
  • Functional status was assessed using the Gross Motor Function Measurement-88 (GMFM-88), Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), and the Korean version of the Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI).
  • Spasticity was measured using the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS).

Main Results:

  • Children with CP exhibited significantly lower MT in the RF and GCM compared to TD children.
  • A significant positive correlation was found between MT of the RF and medial GCM and functional measures (GMFM-88, GMFCS, K-MBI mobility).
  • MT of the lateral GCM also showed a significant positive correlation with GMFM-88 and GMFCS scores.

Conclusions:

  • Young children with CP have reduced muscle thickness in the rectus femoris and gastrocnemius muscles compared to their typically developing peers.
  • Muscle thickness is positively correlated with functional level, as assessed by GMFM-88, GMFCS, and K-MBI mobility scores in children with CP.
  • These findings highlight the potential of muscle thickness as a biomarker for functional status in pediatric CP.
Abstract

Keywords:
Cerebral palsyGross motor functionMuscle thickness

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