An electromyographic study of abdominal muscle activity in children with spastic cerebral palsy.
Saviour K Adjenti, Graham Louw, Jennifer Jelsma and 1 others
PMID 30135898WHAT IT FOUND
In 63 children with spastic cerebral palsy, oblique abdominal muscles showed more electrical activity at rest than in 82 typically developing peers.
Rectus abdominis was similar, so oblique tone may need attention before strengthening.
Key findings
01At rest, external oblique and internal oblique abdominal muscles showed higher EMG activity in children with spastic cerebral palsy than in typically developing children.
02Rectus abdominis activity did not differ between the two groups at rest or during the active test.
03The rest-to-active change in EMG activity was larger in typically developing children for the oblique muscles, but not for rectus abdominis.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
Transversus abdominis was not measured, so the study cannot describe its contribution to trunk stability. The groups were not matched for demographic or anthropometric variables, and the spastic cerebral palsy group had a higher BMI. Only ambulant children at GMFCS levels I to IV were included, so the results do not describe non-ambulant children. Participants were not restricted from physical activity before testing, which may have affected resting readings. The study measured electrical activity during a test, not muscle strength, function or response to treatment. The authors note that unfamiliarity with testing may have increased anxiety and contributed to resting scores.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the elevated oblique resting scores as proof that reducing oblique tone or strengthening the obliques will improve trunk control. The study measured electrical activity, not clinical outcomes, and tested no treatment.