Relation of Musculoskeletal Strength and Function to Postural Stability in Ambulatory Adults With Cerebral Palsy.
Areum K Jensen, Cory E Low, Pooja Pal and 1 others
PMID 33543099WHAT IT FOUND
In adults with cerebral palsy, leg strength and hip bone shape relate to balance.
Bone density at the hip does not. Low hip bone density in this group is common and should not be assumed to be the main driver of poor balance.
Key findings
01Adults with cerebral palsy had significantly lower leg strength and poorer postural stability compared to matched controls.
02In the cerebral palsy group, greater leg muscular strength was associated with better balance, whereas no such relation was found in controls.
03Bone mineral density at the femoral neck showed no relation to balance in either the cerebral palsy group or the control group.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample size was small, with only 13 participants in each group, which limits the generalisability of the correlations found. The study did not account for all medications or supplements that could influence muscle function or bone density, such as calcium supplements or anticonvulsants. Structural abnormalities beyond the proximal femur, such as scoliosis or contractures in other joints, were present but not included in the primary analysis of relations. The cross-sectional design cannot determine whether improving strength or altering geometry would actually improve balance, only that they are related.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that low bone mineral density is the main reason for poor balance in adults with cerebral palsy. This study found no relation between hip bone density and balance in this group; instead, leg strength and hip bone shape were the factors linked to stability.