A cross sectional study of 562 Swedish children with cerebral palsy (ages 3-18 years) was performed from 1990-2005. The researchers analyzed data regarding how a child sits, stands, stands up, sits down and the use of assistive devices.
The results indicated the following:
- 57% of children used standard chairs
- 62% could stand independently
- 62% could stand up without external support
- 63% could sit down without external support
- 42% used adaptive seating
- 31% used external support to stand
- 19% used external support to stand up
- 13% used external support to sit down
Combining the children who used external support (including adaptive seating) with the children who could perform the skills independently the results indicated the following:
- 99% of the children could sit
- 96% could stand
- 81% could stand up
- 81% could sit down.
The Gross Motor Function Classification System was a good predictor of the ability to sit and stand. Children ages 3-6 years old used support more frequently.
To read the full text article go to BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders.
Reference: Elisabet Rodby-Bousquet and Gunnar Hägglund. Sitting and standing performance in a total population of children with cerebral palsy: a cross-sectional study BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2010, 11:131doi:10.1186/1471-2474-11-131
3 comments:
Thanks for this report of very good research, Margaret.
My thoughts....regarding meaning to us therapists...notice that the conclusion relates the type of CP with the ability to sit. I sincerely believe a dependent factor is the type of therapy provided - probably not research-able within the format of this study.
European countries (and I assume Sweden) do not save severely premature or affected newborns in the same way that American newborns are. The numbers/percentages are likely skewed compared to what would be found if the same study was done here.
Barbara
I agree, the degree that therapy plays a role is not measurable with this cross sectional study. I did think some of the numbers were high based on my experience especially the 81% of children standing up with or without external support. Interesting comment about European countries - I did not know that.
I came back to add a link to this guest post from a Swedish Mom whose child has CP:
http://lovethatmax.blogspot.com/2010/07/kids-with-special-needs-around-world.html
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