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The effects of balance board on the balance parameters in five children with spastic cerebral palsy
Mina Baniasad1, Mahsa Asheghan2, Mohammadreza Ziya2
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
Insights
Instrumented balance board training improved balance velocity in children with spastic cerebral palsy. While center of pressure excursion and overshoot showed minimal changes, velocity improvements suggest potential benefits for balance control.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder affecting motor function.
- Spastic diplegia is a prevalent form of CP, impacting balance and mobility.
- Effective interventions are crucial for improving functional outcomes in children with CP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of an instrumented balance board on balance parameters in children with spastic cerebral palsy.
- To assess changes in center of pressure (CoP) excursion, velocity, and overshoot.
Main Methods:
- A pilot single-group pre-post clinical trial was conducted.
- Five children (5-15 years) with spastic diplegia (GMFCS I-II) participated.
- Intervention involved 20 sessions of instrumented balance board training over 7 weeks.
Main Results:
- Center of pressure (CoP) velocity significantly improved in all directions and eye conditions.
- Maximum CoP velocity decreased with eyes open (mediolateral, anteroposterior, total).
- CoP excursion showed no significant change, except mediolaterally with eyes closed; overshoot remained unchanged.
Conclusions:
- Instrumented balance board training shows promise for enhancing balance control in children with cerebral palsy.
- Targeted balance exercises may improve specific parameters like CoP velocity.
- Further research with larger sample sizes is warranted to confirm these findings.
Purpose:
This study evaluated the effects of an instrumented balance board on the balance parameters in children with spastic cerebral palsy by carrying out a pilot single-group pre-post clinical trial.
Methods:
Five children aged 5 to 15 years with spastic diplegia and a Gross Motor Function Classification System level of I or II were included. All participants attended 20 sessions with an instrumented balance board, 45 minutes per session, 3 times a week for 7 weeks. The main outcome measures included the center of pressure excursion, velocity, and overshoot during quiet standing with open and closed eyes. The assessments were performed in the mediolateral and anteroposterior directions at pre- and one week post-intervention.
Results:
Non-parametric tests showed that the excursion did not change significantly except in the mediolateral direction with eyes closed (p < 0.05). The velocity of the center of pressure improved in both directions and eye conditions (p < 0.05). Also, the maximum velocity decreased with eyes open (mediolateral, anteroposterior, and total) (p < 0.05), while the change was not significant with the eyes closed. The overshoot measurements did not change significantly.
Conclusion:
It is recommended to consider balance board training for improving balance parameters in children with cerebral palsy.
