Relationship between balance abilities and gait characteristics in children with post-traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
To quantify the differences in gait variability and balance performance between typically developed (TD) children and children with post-traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to determine the association between gait variability and functional balance in both groups.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Physical therapy department of a paediatric and adolescent rehabilitation hospital.


METHODS
A convenience sample of 24 children post-TBI and 24 TD age and sex matched controls.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Step length, step time and base width variability measured with an electronic walkway; timed up and go (TUG) test and functional reach test (FRT) as a functional balance test.


RESULTS
Base width and step time variability showed no significant difference between the groups. However, children post-TBI had significantly greater variability in step length in comparison to healthy controls. The functional balance abilities of children post-TBI were significantly limited compared to TD children. A significant linear inverse correlation was found between balance performance and step length variability only among children with a TBI.


CONCLUSIONS
Ambulatory children post-severe TBI had decreased balance performance, decreased gait speed and increased step length variability as compared to age-matched healthy controls.
Katz-Leurer
Michal
M
Alyn Hospital, Pediatric and Adolescent Rehabilitation Center, Jerusalem, Israel. michalkz@post.tau.ac.il
Rotem
Hemda
H
Lewitus
Hana
H
Keren
Ofer
O
Meyer
Shirley
S
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices