Article

This study uses a recently developed trunk model to determine which head and
trunk kinematic parameters differentiate children with spastic diplegia from
typically developing (TD) children while walking. Differences in head and trunk
parameters in relation to the severity of the motor involvement (GMFCS levels)
were additionally examined. The trunk model consisted of five segments (pelvis,
thorax, head, shoulder line, spine). Discrete kinematic parameters (ROM, mean
position) and angular waveforms were compared between 20 children with spastic
diplegia (age 9.8 years+/-2.9 years; GMFCS I: n=10, GMFCS II: n=10) and 20
individually age-matched TD children (9.7 years+/-3 years). A new measure for
overall trunk pathology, the trunk profile score (TPS), was proposed and included
in the comparative analysis. Compared to TD children, children with GMFCS II
showed a significantly higher TPS and increased ROM for pelvis tilt, for thorax
and head in nearly all planes, and the angle of kyphosis. In children with GMFCS
I, only ROM of thorax lateral bending was significantly increased. Sagittal ROM
differentiated best between GMFCS levels, with higher ROM found in children with
GMFCS II. Current results provide new insights into head and trunk kinematics
during gait in children with spastic diplegia.
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Langue : ANGLAIS