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Is functional mobility associated with quality of sitting in cerebral palsy? A cross-sectional study
Kaiorisa Doctor1, Shreekanth D Karnad1, Shyam Krishnan1
1Department of Physiotherapy, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India.
Insights
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) who have better sitting ability demonstrate improved functional mobility. This highlights the importance of trunk control for enhancing mobility in children with CP.
Area of Science:
- Neuromuscular disorders
- Pediatric rehabilitation
- Motor control in cerebral palsy
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) involves non-progressive brain abnormalities affecting motor development and functional activities.
- Children with CP often use compensatory strategies due to limitations in posture and motor skills.
- Assessing sitting and mobility is crucial, as both are essential for daily functioning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between sitting ability and functional mobility in children with cerebral palsy (CP).
- To determine if a child's functional mobility is influenced by their sitting ability.
Main Methods:
- Study included 20 children with cerebral palsy (CP), classified under Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I and II, aged 6-12 years.
- Sitting ability was assessed using the Level of Sitting Scale (LSS).
- Functional mobility was evaluated using the modified Timed Up and Go (mTUG) test.
Main Results:
- A significant association was found between the quality of sitting and functional mobility.
- mTUG durations differed significantly across various Level of Sitting Scale (LSS) levels (P < 0.001).
- This association remained significant even when analyzed within the same Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level (P = 0.007).
Conclusions:
- The findings underscore the critical role of trunk control in functional mobility for children with cerebral palsy (CP).
- The established link between sitting quality and mobility suggests potential for targeted interventions.
- This evidence can inform the development of specific intervention programs focusing on trunk control to enhance functional mobility in children with CP.
Objectives:
A group of neuromuscular system anomalies associated with non-progressive issues in the developing fetal or newborn brain are known as cerebral palsy (CP). These abnormalities are typified by poor posture and motor development, which limits the execution of functional activities. Consequently, to achieve the same goals as peers who are typically developing, children with CP employ a variety of compensatory postures and techniques. Given that both sitting and mobility are essential for functioning, assessing each skill alone and in relation to the other is necessary. This study aims to determine if a child's functional mobility affects their sitting ability.
Materials And Methods:
Twenty CP (Gross Motor Function Classification System [GMFCS] levels I and II) children, aged 6-12, were enrolled in the research. The level of sitting scale (LSS) and the modified timed up and go (mTUG) test were utilized to evaluate sitting and functional mobility, respectively.
Results:
The quality of sitting was shown to have a substantial effect on functional mobility, as a significant difference in mTUG durations was established between LSS levels (P < 0.001) and persisted when analyzed within the same GMFCS level (P = 0.007).
Conclusion:
The importance of trunk control in functional mobility can be inferred from the link between sitting quality and mobility. To improve children with CP's functional mobility, this evidence may be utilized to design a well-informed and specific intervention program incorporating trunk control.
