Best seating condition in children with spastic cerebral palsy: One type does not fit all. (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Angsupaisal, Mattana; Dijkstra, Linze-Jaap; la Bastide-van Gemert, Sacha; van Hoorn, Jessika F.; Burger, Karine; Maathuis, Carel G.B.; Hadders-Algra, Mijna
• Is Part Of: Research in developmental disabilities. Volume 71(2017:Dec.)
• Page Start: 42
• Page End: 52
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Cerebral palsy -- Seating inclination -- Foot-support -- Head stability -- Reaching movement -- Kinematics; Developmental disabilities -- Periodicals; Developmentally disabled -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; Developmentally disabled children -- Education -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; Developmental Disabilities -- Periodicals; Disabled -- Periodicals; Mental Retardation -- rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Personnes atteintes de troubles du développement -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; Enfants atteints de troubles du développement -- Éducation -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; Développement, Troubles du -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; 616.858800
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2017.09.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-4222

Abstract

Highlights: Seat forward-tilt doesnt affect head stability in reaching children with spastic CP. Foot-support has little effect on seated reaching of children with spastic CP. Forward-tilting of seat improves seated reaching in children with unilateral CP. Forward-tilting of seat deteriorates seated reaching in children with bilateral CP. Effect of seating depends on type of CP, not on severity. Abstract: Background: The effect of forward-tilting of the seat surface and foot-support in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) is debated. Aim: To assess the effect of forward-tilting of the seat surface and foot-support in children with CP on kinematic head stability and reaching. Methods: Nineteen children functioning at Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I–III participated [range 6–12y; ten unilateral spastic CP (US-CP) and nine bilateral spastic CP (BS-CP)]. Kinematic data were recorded of head sway and reaching with the dominant arm in four sitting conditions: a horizontal and a 15° forward (FW) tilted seat surface, each with and without foot-support. Results: Seating condition did not affect head stability during reaching, but did affect kinematic reaching quality. The major reaching parameters, i.e., the proportion of reaches with one movement unit (MU) and the size of the transport MU, were not affected by foot-support. Forward-tilting had a positive effect on these parameters in children with US-CP, whereas the horizontal condition had this effect in children with BS-CP. Implications: A 15° forward-tilted seating and foot-support do not affect head stability. Reaching in children with US-CP profits from forward-tilting; in children with BS-CP forward-tilting worsens reaching − effects that are independent of foot-support.