Abstract

Background. Normal postural tone is high enough to act against gravity at every stage of motor development, but also low enough to ensure mobility in a given position. All disturbances of adaptation of muscle activity to postural and motor tasks are the cardinal symptoms of actual or potential central dysfunctions. This study attempted to use an objective measure of quantified distribution of forces of body mass on the supporting base to examine the adaptation of muscle activity for different postural patterns. Material and methods. Three groups of 15 children each aged about 12 months were examined, including two groups of children diagnosed with dysfunction motorica origis centralis (DMOC) II° and III°, and a control group of children with bronchitis. Measurement were carried out with a Sensor-Mass-System developed by Lack GmbH and including a platform with 200 sensors and dedicated software. All children were tested twice on two consecutive days. The values of forces and distribution of body mass on the supporting base was determined in three basic positions: supine, prone and sitting. Results. A preliminary analysis showed differences in the values of forces of body mass between the three groups. Statistically significant differences between the results of the first and second measurements in the same position were a rule in the control group. In the group of children with mild DMOC pathology such differences appeared slightly less often and were not found in the group of children with severe DMOC. Children with severe DMOC displayed marked asymmetry of body mass distribution in the frontal plane and along the craniocaudal axis. The other groups were generally characterized by symmetrical postural patterns. Conclusions. While this pilot study was part of a more extensive research project, some general conclusions can be made: an evaluation of body weight distribution on a supporting base is an indirect but objective and reproducible tool for evaluating mus-cle tone distribution in different postural patterns. It can be a valuable addition to the assessment of postural pattern quality.

Key words:

cerebral motor disorders, postural patterns, support base, distribution of body mass