title: Functionality level and its relation to postural control during sitting-to-stand movement in children with cerebral palsy.
abstract: In this study we studied functional performance and functional balance in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and typically developing (TD) children. The relationship between these components and postural control during sit-to-stand movement (STS) was also investigated. Ten children with CP (GMFCS I and II) and 27 TD children, ages 5-12 years, were included in the study. The Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) and the Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) were used to measure functional performance and functional balance, respectively. Postural control during STS was assessed by means of a force plate. Participants were asked to stand from a chair with feet over a force plate. Children with CP exhibited lower scores than TD children in the PBS and in the mobility Functional Skills and Caregiver Assistance domains of the PEDI (p≤0.05). In both groups postural control during STS movement was correlated with mobility Caregiver Assistance scores of the PEDI. The results demonstrate that although the participants had mild to moderate motor impairment, they exhibit deficits in their level of functional performance and functional balance compared to typical children. Moreover, it was observed that impairments in postural control during the STS movement are related to functional performance in both groups. This result demonstrates the importance of the structure and function components to the level of activity in children.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Physical Therapy Department, Neuropediatrics Section. Rod. Washington Luis, km 235, 13565-905 São Carlos, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: silvia_pavao@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Silvia Leticia
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Pavão
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Physical Therapy Department, Neuropediatrics Section. Rod. Washington Luis, km 235, 13565-905 São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriana Neves
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Physical Therapy Department, Neuropediatrics Section. Rod. Washington Luis, km 235, 13565-905 São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Beatriz
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Physical Therapy Department, Neuropediatrics Section. Rod. Washington Luis, km 235, 13565-905 São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nelci Adriana Cicuto Ferreira
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Rocha
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Cerebral palsy; Children; Functional balance; PEDI; Postural control