Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of trunk training on the trunk, upper and lower limb motor functions of children with bilateral spastic Cerebral Palsy. Methods: 36 children were recruited for this study; 19 children were included in the trunk training group and 17 children were included in the control group. Motor functions of the children were assessed by the Trunk Control Measurement Scale, Gross Motor Function Measurement, Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test, Pediatric Balance Scale, Gillette Functional Assessment Scale, Functional Independence Measure for Children and Impact on Family Scale at baseline and after an 8 week of intervention period. Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test and Mann–Whitney U Test were used to assess the differences. Results: The Trunk Control Measurement Scale (p=0.008), Gross Motor Function Measurement (p=0.047), Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test (p=0.032), Pediatric Balance Scale (p=0.006), Gillette Functional Assessment Scale (p=0.011) and Functional Independence Measure for Children (p=0.03) scores improved in favor of the trunk training group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Individually structured trunk training is a promising method to improve trunk, upper and lower extremity motor functions and activity levels of children with bilateral spastic Cerebral Palsy.
Highlights
Cerebral Palsy (CP) defines permanent disorders that lead to motor, sensory, cognitive problems and activity limitations
These studies commonly used serious games and virtual reality for training the trunk [79]. Due to this gap in the literature; in current study we aimed to focus on training the trunk, and we used The Neuro-development Treatment (NDT) which contains many exercises and activities targeting the trunk muscles [10, 11]
Overall 38 children (10 girls, 28 boys, mean age 9.61±4.12) with spastic CP were included in this study
Summary
Cerebral Palsy (CP) defines permanent disorders that lead to motor, sensory, cognitive problems and activity limitations. These disorders are associated with non-progressive impairments, lesions or anomalies occurring in early stages of brain development [1, 2]. A few studies have focused on trunk training in CP population These studies commonly used serious games and virtual reality for training the trunk [79]. Due to this gap in the literature; in current study we aimed to focus on training the trunk, and we used The Neuro-development Treatment (NDT) which contains many exercises and activities targeting the trunk muscles [10, 11]. MATERIAL AND METHODS Children at the ages of 4-18 diagnosed with spastic CP by a pediatric neurologist and had a bilateral impairment, and who are able to follow verbal instructions, and whose family approved their participation were included in this study
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