Muscle Performance as Predictors of Standing Ability in Children with Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy

Aim of the Study: The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the performance of six therapeutic exercises and muscle strength with standing ability in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. Methodology: 50 subjects with spastic CP with ability to stand with one finger support or without support were randomly selected. The total standing duration without support or with one finger support was recorded using stop watch. Then the performance of six therapeutic exercises of kneel stand, quadruped arm/leg lift, unilateral bridging, upper trunk extension, lower trunk extension, leg press exercises were taken. Maximum isometric muscle strength of lower trunk extensor, hip abductor, hip extensor, knee extensor, ankle plantar flexor was measured using modified sphygmomanometer. Muscle length of hamstring and hip adductor was measured using goniometer. Data Analysis: Data were analyzed using Pearson Correlation to find the correlation between each independent variable with standing ability. Multi Variant analysis and Linear Regression were done between standing ability and performance of therapeutic exercises as well as muscle strength. P value will be set at 0.05 for a calculation. Results and Conclusion: The findings of the present study shows that a relationship exists between standing ability and exercise performance of kneel stand, quadruped arm/leg lift, unilateral bridging, upper trunk extension, lower trunk extension and leg press. The study also shows a relationship between strength of lower trunk extensor, hip abductor, hip extensor, knee extensor and plantar flexor of children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. This experiment suggests subjects who perform better in the above functions also have better standing abilities. More the strength of the above mentioned muscles the more the standing abilities.