Article

Anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) play an important role in the
performance of many activities requiring the maintenance of standing posture.
However, little is known about if and how children with cerebral palsy (CP)
generate APAs. Two groups of children with CP (hemiplegia and diplegia) and a
group of children with typical motor development performed arm flexion and
extension movements while standing on a force platform. Electromyographic
activity of six trunk and leg muscles and displacement of center of pressure
(COP) were recorded. Children with CP were able to generate anticipatory postural
adjustments and produce directionally specific APAs and COP displacements similar
to those described in adults and typically developing children. However, children
with diplegia were unable to generate APAs of the same magnitude as children with
typical development and hemiplegia and had higher baseline muscle activity prior
to movement. In children with diplegia, COP was posteriorly displaced and peak
acceleration was smaller during bilateral extension compared to children with hemiplegia. The outcomes of the study highlight the role of APAs in the control
of posture of children with CP and point out the similarities and differences in
anticipatory control in children with diplegia and hemiplegia. These differences
may foster ideas for treatment strategies to enhance APAs in children with CP.
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Langue : ANGLAIS