Asymmetry in children with unilateral cerebral palsy during sit-to-stand movement: Cross-sectional, repeated-measures and comparative study

Author(s)

dos Santos, Adriana Neves ^{[1, 2]} ; Pena, Gisele Moreira ^[1] ; Guilherme, Evelyn Maria ^[1] ; Cicuto Ferreira Rocha, Nelci Adriana ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Physiotherapy, Rod Washington Luis, Km 235, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Santa Catarina, Dept Hlth Sci, Rod Governador Jorge Lacerda 3201, Km 35, 4, BR-88905355 Ararangua, SC - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: CLINICAL BIOMECHANICS; v. 71, p. 152-159, JAN 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Background: We aimed to compare motor strategies adopted by children with unilateral Cerebral Palsy and typically developing children during the performance of sit-to-stand. Methods: Eleven children with unilateral cerebral palsy and 20 typically developing children were evaluated. Kinematic and kinetic analysis of the sit-to-stand movement was performed. Three seat heights were evaluated: neutral (90 degrees of hip-knee-ankle flexion), elevated to 120% of the neutral height, and lowered to 80% of the neutral height. As outcome variables, we considered sit-to-stand duration (temporal); initial, final and maximal sagittal angles and range of motion of trunk, pelvis, hip, knee, and ankle (kinematics); the peak of vertical ground reaction force (kinetics), and asymmetric index. Effect size is represented by eta(2)p. Findings: We found that for the lowered seat, all groups presented increased flexion of lower limbs and trunk to initiate sit-to-stand (p <= 0.012; eta(2)p = 0.41-0.84), increased peak flexion of trunk, hip and knee (p <= 0.01; eta(2)p = 0.39-0.88), increased range of motion of knee and trunk (p <= 0.01; eta(2)p = 0.45-0.85) and the duration of sit-to-stand (p <= 0.05 eta(2)p = 0.23-0.56). Children with unilateral cerebral palsy presented increased posterior pelvic tilt (p <= 0.01) and decreased hip flexion of both lower limbs (p <= 0.01) for all seat heights and moved their non-affected limb backward in the lowered seat (p <= 0.01). Asymmetry was observed for the final and the maximal angles of the ankle in neutral and lowered seats in unilateral cerebral palsy (asymmetry index = 3.3-5.8%). Interpretation: The lowered seat height led to adaptive motor strategies in children with unilateral cerebral palsy, which should be considered in clinical practice. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/18592-9 - Influence of bench heigth and kinesiotaping in sit-to-stand movement in children with cerebral palsy
• Grantee: Thiago Luiz de Russo
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 12/10558-6 - Effects os kinesio taping and bench heigth during sit to stand movement in children with Cerebral Palsy
• Grantee: Adriana Neves dos Santos
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate