Effect of supporting 3D-garment on gait postural stability in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND Children with cerebral palsy show dysfunctional postural control which interferes with their functional performance and daily-life activities. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to identify the effect of a 3D supporting garment on trunk postural control and interjoint coordination during gait in children with bilateral cerebral palsy. METHODS We analyzed tridimensional trunk motion, trunk-thigh and interjoint coordination in 15 4-10 year-old children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (GMFCS I or II) and 16 4-10 year-old typically developing children while walking with or without a supporting garment. RESULTS We found significantly changes in the coordination between trunk and lower limbs in children with cerebral palsy. Step velocity and cadence both increased significantly in children with cerebral palsy but in controls, the cadence remained unaltered. Interjoint coordination between hip-knee and knee-ankle was altered during the stance phase only in the subgroup of children with cerebral palsy without any limitations in ankle joint passive range of motion. CONCLUSION 3D supporting garments improve trunk-thigh and lower limb interjoint coordination in walking in children with bilateral cerebral palsy.