Nonlinear analysis of postural control in children with cerebral palsy: relationship with sensory processing

• Grant number: 14/10562-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: January 10, 2015
• End date: February 19, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Nelci Adriana Cicuto Ferreira Rocha
• Grantee: Silvia Leticia Pavão Rago
• Supervisor: Geert J. P. Savelsbergh
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University Amsterdam (VU), Netherlands
• Associated to the scholarship: 13/13380-6 - Impact of sensorial information in the performance of the sit-to-stand movement in children with cerebral palsy, BP.DR

Abstract

Sensory processing is essential to postural control modulation and to the accomplishment of daily life activities. Regarding the neuromuscular deficits arising from central nervous system injury, which characterizes cerebral palsy (CP), sensory processing of children with CP is impaired determining the impairments in postural control observed in these children. Recent studies have been emphasizing the importance of nonlinear tools to better characterize quality and complexity in postural control analyses. Nevertheless, just few studies assessed postural control using nonlinear tolls. Furthermore, few studies have addressed the relationship between nonlinear measures of postural control and descriptive evaluations of motor behavior, such as scales or other structures questionnaires. Thus, the aim of the present study is to assess postural control of children with CP using nonlinear tools and verify the relationship between postural control and sensory processing of these children. Fifteen children with CP levels I and II of Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) will participate of the study. Sensory processing will be assessed by means of Sensory Profile. Postural control will be assessed by means of children's standing permanence on force plate for 30 seconds. Postural control data analysis will be performed using nonlinear tools of center of pressure (CoP) behavior. The utilized variables will be posteriorly defined. We intend to find a linear relationship between complexity and regularity of CoP oscillation and sensory processing in children with CP. Once verified, this relationship might demonstrate the role of a suitable integration of sensory stimuli in postural control modulation. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

PAVAO, SILVIA LETICIA; LEDEBT, ANNICK; SAVELSBERGH, GEERT J. P.; ROCHA, NELCI ADRIANA C. F.. Dynamical structure of center-of-pressure trajectories with and without functional taping in children with cerebral palsy level I and II of GMFCS. HUMAN MOVEMENT SCIENCE, v. 54, p. 137-143, AUG 2017. (14/10562-9, 13/13380-6)