Effect of Trunk Exercises on Trunk Control, Balance, and Mobility Function in Children with Hemiparetic CP

Abstract

Aim: To find the consequences of trunk exercises in addition to the traditional physiotherapy practices for trunk control, mobility, and balance in hemiparetic cerebral palsy children.

Methods: Forty children withhemiparetic cerebral palsy of 10-14 years (without gender discrimination), were included in this randomized controlled trial. Both groups received a conventional physical therapy program, whilethe study group additionally received trunk exercises. Participants were re-evaluated after three months of treatment by using the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) for assessment of trunk control, Pediatric Berg Balance Scale (PBS) for balance assessments, and the dynamic gait index scale (DGI) for walking mobility function.

Results:The Mann Whitney ‘U’ test was used to measure the difference between the 2 groups while Wilcoxon test was used to measure the difference within the group.Results were demonstrated as mean and standard deviations for pre and post-treatmentscores of variables TIS, PBS, and DGI.Comparison of outcome measures of each group before treatment specified no substantial differences. While, comparison of outcome measures after the treatmentwith traditional physiotherapy along with trunk exercises revealed noteworthy increase in the aptitude to maintain trunk stability, balance, and walking mobility function in study group A (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The trunk exercise has a beneficial role and can be used in amalgamation with a traditional physiotherapy practiceto increase control of the trunk, and improvement of balance, and walking mobility functions in hemiparetic cerebral palsy individuals.

Keywords: Hemiparetic Cerebral palsy, trunk control, balance, Pediatric Berg Balance Scale, Dynamic Gait Index