Commentary on "Sitting postural control affects the development of focused attention in children with cerebral palsy".

The central role of trunk control in the gross motor function of children with cerebral palsy: a retrospective cross-sectional study. AIM: Improvement of gross motor function and mobility are primary goals of physical therapy in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between segmental control of the trunk and the corresponding gross motor function in children with CP. METHOD: This retrospective cross-sectional study was based on 92 consecutive referrals of children with CP in Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I to V, 39 females, 53 males (median age 4y [range 1-14y]), and 77, 12, and 3 with spastic, dyskinetic, and ataxic CP respectively. The participants were tested using the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI), and the Segmental Assessment of Trunk Control (SATCo). RESULTS: Linear regression analysis showed a positive relationship between the segmental level of trunk control and age, with both gross motor function and mobility. Segmental trunk control measured using the SATCo could explain between 38% and 40% of variation in GMFM and between 32% and 37% of variation in PEDI. INTERPRETATION: This study suggests a strong association between segmental trunk postural control and gross motor function and mobility with significant clinical implications for the treatment of children with CP. The relationship between trunk control in sitting and during gait in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. AIM: To assess the relationship between trunk control in sitting and trunk control during gait in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP). METHOD: Twenty-six children (17 males, nine females) with spastic CP (Gross Motor Function Classification System I-III [15 unilateral, 11 bilateral], mean age 13.5y), were included. Trunk control in sitting was assessed with the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) and the Trunk Control Measurement Scale (TCMS), and trunk control during gait by a trunk-worn accelerometer. The Pearson's rank correlation coefficient, partial correlation (rp), and linear regression analysis were applied to assess the relationship between trunk control in sitting and during gait. RESULTS: Trunk control in sitting assessed with the TCMS and the TIS total scores both correlated with trunk accelerations during gait (rp =0.67 and 0.60 respectively). Moreover, some subscale scores correlated equally well with trunk control during gait (the TCMS dynamic sitting balance-reaching subscale score [DSB-R]; rp =0.61) or even higher (TIS dynamic sitting balance subscale [DSB]; rp =0.66). INTERPRETATION: Trunk control in …