Relationship Between Trunk Control and Balance in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Trunk control is impaired in children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) thus influencing their functional balance. However, there is a paucity of literature determining the relationship between trunk control and balance in children with CP.

Aim: To find the relationship between trunk control and balance by means of Trunk Control Measurement Scale (TCMS) and Paediatric Balance Scale (PBS).

Materials and methods: Twenty four children {age range 8-14 years, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) Level I-III} with spastic CP were recruited and evaluated using TCMS and PBS. The results were expressed as summary measures median (M) and Inter-Quartile Range (IQR). The correlation of TCMS and PBS were done using Spearman's correlation coefficient. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The children obtained a median score of 52 out of 58 on the TCMS and 50 out of 56 on PBS. There was a significantly strong correlation with r_s=0.77 and p<0.01. A strong correlation (p<0.01) was seen between static, dynamic and total components of TCMS and PBS. The median scores of TCMS and PBS had a strong correlation for boys with r_s=0.74 and very strong correlation for girls with r_s=0.84. Based on the type of spastic CP, diplegics had a very strong correlation with r_s=0.85. While based on GMFCS levels, Level II and Level III had a very strong correlation (For level II rs=0.81 and level III rs=0.86) and weak correlation for level I (rs=0.27).

Conclusion: Based on gender, topography and severity of the motor impairment both trunk control and balance are impaired to a different degree in children with CP. The findings of this study showed a high positive correlation between trunk control and balance in children with spastic CP.