Does stable sitting influence upper limb function in children with cerebral palsy?

Özet

Bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (BSCP) patients frequently need to use varioussitting devices for body control and function. The aim of this study was toinvestigate whether the use of a belt to position the pelvis in an adjustablechair would affect upper limb function in preschool children with BSCP. Fortyone children with BSCP [mean age 44 ±11, range 18-60 months] classifiedaccording to the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), aslevel III (n=21) and level IV (n=20) were fitted with a hip-positioning belt.Upper limb functions were assessed by Quality of Upper Extremity SkillsTest (QUEST). The median scores of the following upper extremity functionsincreased significantly by wearing the hip positioning belt: dissociatedmovements, grasping, weight bearing and protective extension. The total QUESTscore increased from 56.7 (±46.3) to 66.1 (±39.2) (p<0.001). The portableand adaptable hip-positioning belt may be used in daily life to improve upperlimb activity in preschool children with moderate to severe BSCP.