Investigation of trunk control and balance in adolescents with hemiplegic cerebral palsy

Abstract

Objectives: In this study, the aim was to compare trunk control and balance in adolescents with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP) to their typically developing peers. Materials and Methods: Thirty-eight participants were included in this study. Nineteen of these children were Level I and II mildly affected children with CP between the ages of 10 and 18 according to the Gross Motor Function Classification system (mean age 13.262.94 years), while the other nineteen were typically developing adolescents between the ages of 10 and 18 (mean age 13.572.85 years). After sociodemographic information of adolescents was obtained, trunk control assessment was done with the Trunk Control Measurement Scale (TCMS) and balance assessment was made with the Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS). Results: According to the results of the study, there was a significant difference in trunk control (95% CI (50.65 – 54.65), p=0.001) and balance (95% CI (53.21 – 54.99), p=0.001) between adolescents with hemiplegic CP and their typically developing peers. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that adolescents with mild hemiplegic CP exhibit weaker trunk control and balance compared to their typically developing peers. Even though the level of impairment in adolescents with CP is mild, adding exercises to rehabilitation programs aimed at improving trunk control and balance may contribute to motor development. We believe that this study should be repeated with a larger sample size.