Article

PURPOSE: To investigate differences in position and body movements between
children with severe cerebral palsy (CP) and children with typical development
(TD) during the daytime and while asleep at night. METHOD: Fifteen children with
severe quadriplegic CP living at home (GMFCS level V, 7 males, 8 females; mean
age 8 years 3 months; range 3-20 years) and 15 children with TD (6 males, 9
females; mean age 8 years 7 months; range 1-16 years) participated. Body position
and movements were recorded for 24 h by a body position monitor and a physical
activity monitor, respectively. The amount of time spent in one position and the
durations of inactive periods during the daytime and during night-time sleep were
computed and analyzed for group differences. RESULTS: In children with CP, the
mean longest time spent in one position was longer than that in children with TD
during night-time sleep (5.6 +/- 3.5 h versus 1.6 +/- 1.2 h). In contrast, no
significant differences were found between the groups during the daytime (1.9 +/-
1.1 h versus 1.6 +/- 0.7 h). The mean longest time the body remained inactive was
longer in the children with CP during both daytime and nighttime sleep (0.6 +/-
0.3 h versus 0.3 +/- 0.3 h for daytime, 1.4 +/- 0.8 h versus 0.7 +/- 0.3 h for
nighttime). CONCLUSION: Children with severe CP living at home showed prolonged
immobilized posture during night-time sleep when their caregivers would be likely
to also be asleep. This may suggest that these children should receive postural
care assistance at night.

Langue : ANGLAIS