Trunk Control Balance and Upper Extremity Function in Ambulatory Children with Diplegic Cerebral Palsy: A Comparative...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Rehabilitation
• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Investigating trunk control, balance, and upper extremity (UE) skills in ambulatory children with diplegic cerebral palsy (CP).
• Classifying participants into Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I and II.
• Comparing GMFCS subgroups and healthy children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess trunk control, balance, and UE skill quality in ambulatory children with diplegic CP (GMFCS I-II).
• To compare GMFCS I and II groups.
• To compare children with CP to a healthy cohort.

Main Methods:

• Included 25 children with spastic diplegic CP and 30 healthy controls.
• Assessed trunk control using the Trunk Control Measurement Scale (TCMS).
• Evaluated balance with Single-Leg Stance and Four-Square Step Tests, and UE function with the Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test (QUEST).

Main Results:

• Healthy children outperformed both CP groups across all measures.
• No significant differences in balance or QUEST scores between GMFCS I and II groups.
• GMFCS I group showed significantly higher scores in TCMS static sitting, dynamic reaching, selective movement control, and total scores compared to GMFCS II.
• A moderate positive correlation (54% regression) found between QUEST and TCMS scores.

Conclusions:

• Trunk control is a critical factor influencing UE skill quality in children with CP.
• Core stabilization exercises are recommended to enhance UE function and manage disability.
• Findings highlight the importance of trunk stability for functional outcomes in pediatric CP.