Article

Poor control of postural muscles is a primary impairment in people
with cerebral palsy (CP).
The purpose of this study was to investigate
differences in the timing characteristics of trunk and hip muscle activity during
walking in young children with CP compared with children with typical development
(TD). METHODS: Thirty-one children (16 with TD, 15 with CP) with an average of
28.5 months of walking experience participated in this observational study.
Electromyographic data were collected from 16 trunk and hip muscles as
participants walked at a self-selected pace. A custom-written computer program
determined onset and offset of activity. Activation and coactivation data were
analyzed for group differences. RESULTS: The children with CP had greater total
activation and coactivation for all muscles except the external oblique muscle
and differences in the timing of activation for all muscles compared with the TD
group. The implications of the observed muscle activation patterns are discussed
in reference to existing postural control literature.
LIMITATIONS: The potential
influence of recording activity from adjacent deep trunk muscles is discussed, as
well as the influence of the use of an assistive device by some children with CP.
CONCLUSIONS: Young children with CP demonstrate excessive, nonreciprocal trunk
and hip muscle activation during walking compared with children with TD. Future
studies should investigate the efficacy of treatments to reduce excessive muscle
activity and improve coordination of postural muscles in CP.

Langue : ANGLAIS