Evaluation of Pediatric Balance Scale and Quantitative Balance Parameters in Patients With Cerebral Palsy

Marmara University

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Cerebral Palsy, Spastic; Balance; Distorted

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03417726

09.2017.735

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to evaluate Pediatric Balance Scale and quantitative balance and gait parameters assessed by Balance Master force plate in Cerebral Palsy (CP) patients who are ambulatory without an assistive device in daily life.

Full description

CP refers to a group of motion and posture disorders that limit activity and participation which is attributed to non-progressive disturbances in the developing fetus or infant brain. In CP, motor and sensory disorders are often accompanied by poor balance control. Impaired balance control leads to increased risk of falling, which is a major kinesiologic problem in children who are ambulatory without an assistive device.

Functional balance in children is defined as the ability to maintain the center of gravity according to the base of support during typical childhood activities of daily living, school and play. The Pediatric Balance Scale, a modification of the Berg Balance Scale, was developed as a functional balance measure for children, easily administered without specialized equipment in a relatively short time.

Balance Master® (Neurocom International Clackmas, Oregon, USA) is a device consisting of a system that processes signals from an 18x60 inch plaque that transmits the vertical forces exerted through patient's feet to measure center of gravity position and postural control through a software program.

The aim of this study is to compare PBS results with quantitative balance and gait parameters obtained from Balance Master in spastic CP patients who are independently ambulatory. The level of correlation between these measurement methods will be examined and superiority to each other in assessing balance problems in this patient group will be evaluated.

Enrollment: 50 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 4 to 18 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy
• Age between 4-18 years
• Sufficient cooperation to understand instructions and participate evaluations
• Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level I-II
• Giving an informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Visual and vestibular deficits
• Botulinum-toxin A treatment within 3 months or having undergone an orthopaedic surgery 1 year prior to inclusion in the study
• Severe scoliosis (Cobb angle >40°)
• Uncontrolled seizures (Seizure in previous 6 months)
• Having intrathecal baclofen pump
• Having undergone selective dorsal rhizotomy