Abstract

Background. Injury to the immature brain leads to impaired development of the antigravity mechanism. The adoption of progressively higher body positions is only possible due to compensatory mechanisms. The aim of the study was to diagnose postural disorders in children with CP with respect to the adopted compensatory mechanisms. Material and methods. Eighteen children with advanced hemiparesis, aged from 5 to 14, took part in the study. Objective posturometric measurements were taken while the patients maintained a standing position without assistance. Photogrammetric measurements was used to evaluate the spatial arrangement of individual body segments, with pressure forces on the support base being assessed simultaneously using a baroresistive platform. Results. Patients demonstrated two types of postural patterns: a progravity pattern and an antigravity pattern, which differed mainly in terms of the patient habitually overloading or unloading one of the lower limbs, changing the position of the centre of gravity projection on the support base and a characteristic relation of the shoulder and pelvic lines. Conclusions. The nature of postural disorders in CP children depends on the anti- or progravitational nature of the paresis. The development of postural disorders in CP children is predictable and should therefore be taken into account from the very beginning of rehabilitation

Key words:

cerebral palsy, compensatory antigravity mechanism, postural problems