The Relationship Between Upper Extremity Functionality, Trunk Control and Balance in Children With Cerebral Palsy

Investigation of the Relationship Between Functionality, Trunk Control and Balance in Children With Cerebral Palsy

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between trunk control, upper extremity functionality and balance in children with cerebral palsy and to compare this relationship with healthy sedentary children.This study is carried out through Eastern Mediterranean University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Pediatric Rehabilitation Unit.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Cerebral Palsy; Diplegic Cerebral Palsy; Balance; Distorted
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Balance Tests

Detailed Description

23 children with Cerebral Palsy and 30 healthy children will be included in the study, and the families of all children participating in the study will sign an informed consent form.After signing the consent form from the families of the children included in the study, their demographic information will be recorded and their Gross Motor Function Classification System levels will be determined.

Children's upper extremity functionality will be evaluated with the Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test. To determine their functional balance, the Single-Leg Stance Test and the Four Step Square Test are measured. Additionally, balances will be determined by the Trunk Control Measurement Scale. Evaluations are made using tables and chairs. Evaluations take approximately 60 minutes, depending on the condition of the children, and all evaluations will be made one-on-one by the physiotherapist. In the study where power analysis was performed, 50 child evaluations were deemed appropriate. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences package program is used to analyze the data. Whether the data complies with normal distribution will be evaluated using the Shapiro Wilk Test and histogram graphs. Descriptive statistics are given as mean, standard deviation, median, number and percentage. Numerical data between groups are compared using Student's t test and Mann Whitney U test. Categorical data will be compared using the Chi Square test. Spearman's correlation test was used for correlation analysis, p value <0.05 will be considered statistically significant.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 53

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Cyprus
  • Famagusta, Cyprus, 99628
    • Eastern Mediterranean University
• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Çukurova
    • Adana, Çukurova, Turkey (Türkiye), 01170
      • Yeni Sihirli Eller Özel Eğitim ve Rehabilitasyon Merkezi

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Cerebral Palsy and healthy children between the ages of 8 and 18 will be included in the study. Children with hearing and vision loss will be excluded from the study in order not to affect balance disorders. In order to standardize their mobility, those with GMFC levels 1 and 2 will be included in the study.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Between the ages of 8-18,
• Gross Motor Function Classification System level 1-2,
• Do not have severe visual or hearing impairment,
• Does not have any cooperation problems that would hinder communication,
• Children who have had Botulinum Toxin-A injection

Exclusion Criteria:

• Those with GMFC level 3-4-5,
• Children who had surgery within the last six months were not included in the study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Healthy Children; Healthy children between the ages of 8 and 18 will be included in the study. Children with hearing and vision loss will be excluded from the study in order not to affect balance disorders.	Other: Balance Tests; With the scales and tests the children trunk control, quality of upper extremity skills, single leg stance duration will be measured
Cerebral Palsy Children; Cerebral Palsy children between the ages of 8 and 18 will be included in the study. Children with hearing and vision loss will be excluded from the study in order not to affect balance disorders. In order to standardize their mobility, those with Gross Motor Function Classification levels 1 and 2 will be included in the study.	Other: Balance Tests; With the scales and tests the children trunk control, quality of upper extremity skills, single leg stance duration will be measured

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
trunk control	All the children will be measured with the Trunk Control Measurement Scale. This test includes 15 items that measure static and dynamic sitting balance, two components of trunk control during functional activities. All items are scored on 2, 3 or 4 points and are administered bilaterally. The total score is between 0-58. A high score indicates good performance.	one month
upper extremity functionality	All the children will be measured with the Quality of upper extremity skills test. This test evaluates the quality of upper extremity movements; It evaluates in 4 different areas: independent movements, grasping, weight bearing and protective extension. In protective extension, falling to the front, back and side using the arms is evaluated. A "yes" or "no" score is given depending on the completion of each action or task. Scores in these four areas are added together for a total score. Additionally, hand function, spasticity and cooperation are also evaluated. In hand function evaluation, 0 to 10 points are marked for the right hand, left hand and bilaterally. In cooperation, children's cooperation statuses are marked as "not cooperative", "partially cooperative" and "fully cooperative". During the evaluation, the child is not allowed to use any devices for the upper extremity. Both the child's right and left upper extremities are scored separately. Total score is between 0 and 100.	one month
balance	all the children will be measured with the Four Step Square Test and Single leg Stance test. It is desirable to maintain this posture for as long as possible during the test. The test and duration begin with the foot being lifted off the ground. The test is repeated twice and the best time measured is noted in seconds (for single leg stance). The test begins with one foot of the individual touching the ground in the 2nd square and ends with the last foot touching the ground in the 1st square. The test is repeated twice for each individual and the test score completed in the shortest time is recorded in seconds (four step square test).	one month
Weight and Height	Weight and height will be combined to report BMI in kg/m2	one month

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Eastern Mediterranean University
• Investigators: Study Director: Emine Tuzun, Prof, Eastern Mediterranean University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 15, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): April 16, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 14, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 19, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): April 22, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 3, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 31, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: functionality; cerebral palsy; balance; upper extremity; trunk control
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Brain Damage, Chronic; Cerebral Palsy
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2024/01/24

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No