None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Postural control plays a fundamental role in motor behaviour. Hence it is important to identify all movement deficits that could have a negative impact on further motor development of a child. Early detection of movement deficits during step initiation will facilitate the selection of the optimal physiotherapy management strategy. The main aim of the study is an assessment of step initiation in children aged 5-6 years with faulty posture who had been diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders during infancy, and in healthy children. Candidates will be qualified to participate in the study based on neurological and physiotherapy examinations. Step initiation will be performed on force platforms under various conditions, ie., with and without an obstacle, stepping up onto a platform situated at a higher level, stepping down onto a platform situated on a lower level.
Interventions
The main aim of the study is posturographic assessment of step initiation in children aged 5-6 years. Step initiation will be studied in children with faulty posture who had been diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders during infancy (experimental group) and in healthy children with no history of postural control or movement deficits.
All children will undergo a three-stage postural assessment including neurological examination by a child neurologist and physiotherapy examination by a neuro
The main aim of the study is posturographic assessment of step initiation in children aged 5-6 years. Step initiation will be studied in children with faulty posture who had been diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders during infancy (experimental group) and in healthy children with no history of postural control or movement deficits. All children will undergo a three-stage postural assessment including neurological examination by a child neurologist and physiotherapy examination by a neurodevelopmental physiotherapist. Based on these examinations the children will be allocated to the experimental (children with faulty posture) or control group (healthy children). The third stage will be step initiation assessment in both groups. The measurement station will consist of two (A and B) force AMTI platforms (AccuGait), charge amplifier and computer. Digital output from the platform will be recorded using AMTI's NetForce software with recording frequency of 100 Hz. Quiet standing will be the starting position in all trials with feet comfortably aligned, arms along the trunk and eyes looking straight ahead. Assessment of step initiation will comprise four trials: 1. Three repetitions: quiet standing on platform A for 15 seconds, then changing to Platform B (1 step) followed by quiet standing for another 15 seconds. The distance between platforms: 10cm. 2. Three repetitions: quiet standing on Platform A for 15 seconds, then changing to Platform B (1 step) followed by quiet standing for another 15 seconds. A 15-cm obstacle over the edge of the platforms; the distance between platforms: 10 cm. 3. Three repetitions – quiet standing on Platform A for 15 seconds, then changing to Platform B (1 step up) followed by quiet standing for another 15 seconds. Platform B is placed on a 17-cm base directly at the edge of Platform A. 4. Three repetitions – quiet standing on Platform B for 15 seconds, then changing to Platform A (1 step down) followed by quiet standing for another 15 seconds. Platform B is placed on a 17-cm base directly at the edge of Platform A. Platform changing will each time start at a sound signal. The recording of center of foot pressure (COP) displacements will be divided into three phases: Phase 1 – quiet standing before step initiation Phase 2 – transit Phase 3 – quiet standing until measurement completion. The recording will be divided into phases using an algorithm whose main elements will be foot contact with the platform and the limit of momentary COP displacement; beyond that point exit from stability or stability gain will be observed. Stability is defined as body sway where momentary COP displacement does not exceed average COP displacement plus three standard deviations. For Phase 1, average COP and SD will be calculated based on measurements made within the first 5 sec of the test. For Phase 3 – based on the last 5 sec of the test. The assessment will comprise two sessions: neurological and physiotherapy examinations on one day - the approximate duration of this session is 45 minutes (Stages 1 and 2); step initiation assessment on another day - the approximate duration of this session is 20 minutes (Stage 3).
Sponsors
Medical University of Silesia
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
5 Years to 6 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
The experimental group will comprise children with faulty posture identified on neurological and physiotherapy examinations, who were diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders during infancy and were given physiotherapy in the first year of their lives. The following postural deformities will be included in the experimental group: shoulder and scapular asymmetry, abnormal curvatures of the spine, incorrect knee alignment, foot arch deformity, foot deformity and abnormalities in the antigravity mechanism (low muscle tone, muscle tone asymmetry). The control group will comprise nursery school children aged 5 to 6 years with no postural defects on neurological and physiotherapy examinations, no history of postural control or movement deficits and no physiotherapy interventions in the first year of their lives.
Exclusion criteria
- genetic disorders - progressive encephalopathy - congenital abnormalities of the central nervous system - infantile cerebral palsy - no consent of the child and / or parents / guardians to participate in the study.
Outcome results
None listed