Evaluation of Postural Stability and Its Relation to Isokinetic Performance in Persons with Cerebral Palsy

This study examined the relationship between postural stability and isokinetic performance in 23 individuals with cerebral palsy (tetraparesis with ataxia, tetraparesis with athetosis, tetraparesis with spasticity, diplegia with spasticity, and right/left hemiplegia). Participants performed a bilateral knee flexion/extension concentric isokinetic test at 60, 210, and 360°/s while postural stability was assessed with a Romberg neuromuscular (eyes-open) test on a strain-gauge force plate. Peak torque at the knee flexors and extensors correlated significantly with center-of-pressure path length and mean velocity across all three angular velocities, indicating that greater lower-limb neuromuscular capacity was associated with better postural stability, and suggesting isokinetic training as a potential avenue for improving postural control in persons with cerebral palsy.

Aug 22, 2005 — Aug 27, 2005