Comparison of differences in respiratory function and pressure as a predominant abnormal movement of children with cerebral palsy.
Hae-Yeon Kwon
PMID 28265153WHAT IT FOUND
Children with ataxic cerebral palsy had the lowest lung capacity and inspiratory strength, while those with spastic type had the highest.
Dyskinetic type fell in between. Assessing respiratory function is necessary because these differences depend on the specific movement disorder.
Key findings
01Forced vital capacity and FEV1 were significantly lower in the ataxic group compared to both spastic and dyskinetic groups.
02Maximal inspiratory pressure was highest in the dyskinetic group and lowest in the ataxic group, with significant differences between all three types.
03Maximal expiratory pressure did not differ significantly among the three groups.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample sizes were very unequal, with only six children in the ataxic group and nine in the dyskinetic group, compared to twenty-eight in the spastic group. The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot show whether respiratory function worsens over time or improves with specific interventions. The paper does not report whether the groups were matched for gross motor function level (GMFCS) within the subtypes, which could influence respiratory mechanics.
Declared interests
No conflicts of interest or funding sources are declared in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy have better overall respiratory function because they had the highest inspiratory pressure. They still had significantly lower lung volumes than the spastic group, and the ataxic group was the weakest across most measures.