Dynamic Balance During Gait in Children With Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy Versus Normal Children

Abstract

Purpose: Cerebral palsy can negatively affect dynamic stability in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy during walking. This results in a high risk of falling. There is limited evidence regarding the dynamic stability of children with cerebral palsy. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the dynamic stability of children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, compared to typically developed children during walking.
Methods: Sixteen children including 8 with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy and 8 normal ones with an age range of 5 to 8 years participated in this quasi-experimental[A1]  study. A Qualysis motion analysis system capturing at a frequency of 100 Hz was used to record data. Qualysis software and Visual3D software were utilized for data extraction. Data analysis was conducted using the Independent t-test with P<0.05.
Results: The stride length and velocity of gait in children with cerebral palsy were 32.25 cm and 0.34 m/s lower than the normal children, respectively. Center of mass displacement was 12.25% lower in anteroposterior plane and 1.23% higher in mediolateral plane in children with cerebral palsy, compared to the normal children. The margin of stability was 1.72 cm higher in the children with cerebral palsy, compared to normal children.
Conclusion: The lower anteroposterior and higher mediolateral displacement of the center of mass yield an altered pattern of gait in children with cerebral palsy, compared to the normal children.  Considering the aforementioned changes and the lower velocity of gait in children with cerebral palsy, it can be concluded that the dynamic stability of children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy is lower, compared to the normal children during walking.