The Relationship Between Upper Extremity Functionality, Trunk Control and Balance in Children With Cerebral Palsy

Investigation of the Relationship Between Functionality, Trunk Control and Balance in Children With Cerebral Palsy

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between trunk control, upper extremity functionality and balance in children with cerebral palsy and to compare this relationship with healthy sedentary children.This study is carried out through Eastern Mediterranean University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Pediatric Rehabilitation Unit.

23 children with Cerebral Palsy and 30 healthy children will be included in the study, and the families of all children participating in the study will sign an informed consent form.After signing the consent form from the families of the children included in the study, their demographic information will be recorded and their Gross Motor Function Classification System levels will be determined.

Children's upper extremity functionality will be evaluated with the Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test. To determine their functional balance, the Single-Leg Stance Test and the Four Step Square Test are measured. Additionally, balances will be determined by the Trunk Control Measurement Scale. Evaluations are made using tables and chairs. Evaluations take approximately 60 minutes, depending on the condition of the children, and all evaluations will be made one-on-one by the physiotherapist. In the study where power analysis was performed, 50 child evaluations were deemed appropriate. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences package program is used to analyze the data. Whether the data complies with normal distribution will be evaluated using the Shapiro Wilk Test and histogram graphs. Descriptive statistics are given as mean, standard deviation, median, number and percentage. Numerical data between groups are compared using Student's t test and Mann Whitney U test. Categorical data will be compared using the Chi Square test. Spearman's correlation test was used for correlation analysis, p value <0.05 will be considered statistically significant.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Between the ages of 8-18,
• Gross Motor Function Classification System level 1-2,
• Do not have severe visual or hearing impairment,
• Does not have any cooperation problems that would hinder communication,
• Children who have had Botulinum Toxin-A injection

Exclusion Criteria:

• Those with GMFC level 3-4-5,
• Children who had surgery within the last six months were not included in the study.