1Assistant Professor, Laxmi Memorial College of Physiotherapy, Balmatta, Mangaluru
2Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics, A.J Institute of Medical Sciences, Kuntikana, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
3Post Graduate Student Laxmi Memorial College of Physiotherapy, Balmatta, Mangaluru
4Assistant Professor, Laxmi Memorial College of Physiotherapy, Balmatta, Mangaluru
*Corresponding author: Rakesh K R Post Graduate Student, Laxmi Memorial College of Physiotherapy, Mangaluru, Karnataka State, India. E-mail address: physiorakeshkr@gmail.com
Online published on 26 October, 2018.
Cerebral Palsy (CP) describes a group of permanent disorders of the movement development and posture, which causing activity limitations. Seventy to eighty percent of children with cerebral palsy have spastic clinical features. Usually, upper limb impairment occurs in 50% to 70% of individuals with CP. Trunk balance is proposed to be an important contributor to voluntary upper extremity function, including motor control and dexterity in children with spastic CP. Some studies have found correlations between static posture and upper extremity function, but very few studies have compared functional balance and upper limb function in children with spastic CP. If there is any correlation found between functional balance and upper limb function, then treatment approaches can focus on balance training in order to improve upper limb function along with functional balance. Hence, this study was conducted to find if a correlation exists between upper limb function and functional balance.
To determine correlation between upper extremity function and functional balance in children with spastic CP.
Twenty children (age range 5–12 years, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) Level I-III) with spastic CP were recruited for this pilot cross sectional study and evaluated using Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) and Quality of Upper Extremity Skill Test (QUEST).
On analysis using the Karl Pearson's correlation coefficient, it was seen that there was a significantly strong positive correlation between QUEST and PBS scores with r=0.773 and p=0.000
Findings of this pilot study shows that there is a strong positive relationship between upper limb function and functional balance. Interventions to improve trunk control and balance may improve performance of upper limb function measures. Further studies are required to determine the influence of balance function on upper limb function.
Spastic cerebral palsy, Functional balance, Upper limb function
