Kinematic patterns of rolling over in children with cerebral palsy

Abstract

This study was designed to determine indicators for an objective evaluation of kinematic abnormalities in cerebral palsy. The analysis included 30 healthy children (with a mean age of 4.8 years) and 21 cerebral palsy children (mean age, 5.3 years).Spastic type of CP was observed in 11 (diplagia: 8, quadplagia: 3) of the 21 children, and athetosis type or athetosis with spasticity (mixed type) was observed in the remaining 10 (quadplagia:10). By using cluster analysis, kinematic patterns of the childrenís rolling over behavior were dividedinto three types (A, B, and C). The patterns in 19 of the 21 children with cerebral palsy were divided into TypeB or C. In Type A, the necks and legs were in flexion when both the scapulas and pelvis were elevated from thefloor. The phenomena were considered to be the characteristics of rolling over in healthy children. In Type B, thenecks and ankles were in extension and plantar flexion; these traits were considered to be the distinctive kinematic patterns of cerebral palsy. In Type C, rolling over of the upper body preceded extension of the neck, plantar flexion of the ankles, and extension of the legs. These phenomena were also considered to be the characteristics of cerebral palsy.