Honors College Theses

Publication Date

2024

Major

Exercise Science (B.S.)

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (open access)

Faculty Mentor

Dr. Li Li

Abstract

Background: Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a non-progressive group of disorders that interferes with postural control and gross motor function (GMF). The purpose of this study was to develop a methodology to evaluate and link postural control and functional ability by identifying the best measures to use.

Methods: For this study, children between the ages of 12 and 22 who have CP and a Gross Motor Function Classification System level I to III were recruited. They performed a series of gross motor tests from the BOT-2 while standing on a force plate to record their center of pressure (COP) movement. Several measures from the COP data were identified and analyzed to identify which ones correlated best with the scores from the BOT-2 tests.

Results: The standard deviation of the quiet stance, a measure of static postural control, had the highest correlation with the functional scores. The COP range, a measure of dynamic postural control, had the second-best correlation with the functional scores.

Conclusion: This study successfully developed a methodology to link postural control and functional ability by identifying the quiet stance SD and the COP range as the best measures for future research.

Keywords: Cerebral Palsy, postural control, functional ability, gross motor function, BOT-2

Thesis Summary

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a non-progressive group of disorders that interferes with postural control and gross motor function (GMF). The purpose of this study was to develop a methodology to evaluate and link postural control and functional ability by identifying the best measures to use. For this study, children between the ages of 12 and 22 who have CP and a Gross Motor Function Classification System level I to III were recruited. They performed a series of gross motor tests from the BOT-2 while standing on a force plate to record their center of pressure (COP) movement. Several measures from the COP data were identified and analyzed to identify which ones correlated best with the scores from the BOT-2 tests. The standard deviation of the quiet stance, a measure of static postural control, had the highest correlation with the functional scores. The COP range, a measure of dynamic postural control, had the second-best correlation with the functional scores. This study successfully developed a methodology to link postural control and functional ability by identifying the quiet stance SD and the COP range as the best measures for future research.

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