GAIT- AND BALANCE-RELATED FACTORS AFFECTING PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN WITH UNILATERAL CEREBRAL PALSY

Abstract

Although gait and balance impairments are prevalent in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP), their effects on participation are not completely elucidated. This study aims to explore factors affecting participation in children with UCP, particularly those related to gait and balance. This descriptive relation-seeker study was completed with 40 children with UCP at Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I and II (50% female; median age = 11 (7-12)years). "The Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66)", "The Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS)", "The Timed Up and Go test (TUG) and The Functional Mobility Scale (FMS)", and "The BTS G-Walk Spatiotemporal Gait Analysis System" were used to evaluate the gross motor function, balance, functional mobility, and quantitative gait parameters, respectively. "The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM)" was employed to evaluate participation. Variables affecting the COPM scores were analyzed by multivariate regression analysis.The factors affecting the COPM-performance score were cadence (B = 79.859, p = 0.001) and FMS (B = 0.352, p<0.001). These variables explained about 45% of thevariation in the COPM-performance score (R2adj = 0.445). The factors affecting the COPM-satisfaction score were cadence (B = 0.188, p=0.044) and stride length of the more affected side (B = 0.137, p=0.008), which explained 26% of thevariation in the COPM-satisfaction score (R2adj =0 .260).The factors affecting participation in children with UCP were cadence, stride length of the more affected side, and functional mobility. We recommend that rehabilitation specialists consider these factors, as they may be beneficial in designing rehabilitation interventions that effectively promote participation in children with UCP.