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RESEARCH PAPER
1
Research Centre of the Centre de réadaptation Marie Enfant, Hôpital Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada, 2Department of
Kinesiology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada, and 3Department of Surgery, University of Montreal, Montreal,
QC, Canada
Abstract
Purpose. To draw up a clinical portrait of children with cerebral palsy (CP) in relation to their postural stability in the sitting
position, by means of questionnaires addressed to their parents and clinicians and to identify the parameters related to body
geometry, activities of daily living (ADL) and the period of the day that are linked with their postural instability.
Method. Parents and therapists of 31 children with CP (17 boys, 14 girls; mean age, 12.7 years; age range, 8–18 years) took
For personal use only.
part in the study. As a first step, four questionnaires were developed by the research team. Nine clinicians were then involved
in a focus group to validate their content. They were thereafter sent to the parents and therapists of the children. Descriptive
analyses (percentage) were performed on the results of the questionnaires.
Results. A high percentage of instability was reported by both children’s clinicians and parents (81% and 70%, respectively).
This instability mainly occurred after less than half an hour in the wheelchair. Sliding and posterior pelvic tilt, pelvic obliquity
and pelvic rotation were identified as the main problems of instability encountered by these children.
Conclusion. The children involved in this study experienced some difficulties in achieving various ADL, because of their
instability in the seated position. As the maintenance of postural stability is essential to the performance of most motor acts, it
is essential to better understand the parameters associated with postural instability of children with CP in the seated posture.
Correspondence: François Prince, PhD, Laboratoire de Posture et de Locomotion, Centre de réadaptation Marie Enfant, 5200 rue Bélanger Est, Montréal,
QC, Canada, H1T 1C9. E-mail: francois.prince@umontreal.ca
ISSN 1748-3107 print/ISSN 1748-3115 online ª 2009 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc.
DOI: 10.1080/17483100802362036
144 M. Lacoste et al.
disorder, its clinical manifestations may worsen if no 25,27]. However, the results of these studies are far
intervention is done [2,11]. Although there is a from being conclusive, considering the restricted
variety of positioning equipment available, the use of number of subjects (1–13), the diversity and com-
a seating system proves to be the most functional and plexity of the conditions and also the short duration
frequently used piece of equipment [12]. It has also of the experiments [37].
been shown to be essential in improving the The choice of seating components is still empirical
functional performance of children with CP [1,6, and remains more a question of clinical expertise
12,13]. Proper seating aims at normalising muscle than the result of a systematic approach validated by
tone, reducing the influence of abnormal reflexes, research. It is thus difficult for clinicians to choose an
improving motor control, decreasing discomfort, intervention considered to be suitable and optimal.
ensuring skin integrity, improving physiological Clinical experience suggests that the attribution of
functions, preventing, delaying or accommodating seating systems varies from one clinical team to
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deformities and enhancing quality of life [11–21]. another [13,38]. Moreover, seating clinicians from
The goal of seating is often to maximise functional Marie Enfant rehabilitation centre corroborate find-
independence in various fields such as feeding, ings in the clinical literature ascertaining the diffi-
communication and locomotion (wheelchair use) culty in intervening in an optimal way to effectively
[11,12,22–28]. Moreover, a better posture increases control the seated posture of children with CP
comfort thereby promoting sitting tolerance, which in [13,33,35]. The objective of the present study was
turn supports schooling and socialisation. to characterise the postural stability of children with
Although there is no standardised protocol with CP in their seating system, by means of question-
regard to the attribution process of seating aids, naires addressed to their parents and clinicians and
clinicians usually begin their intervention with the to identify the parameters related to body geometry,
pelvis [11,14–16,29–31], as it is the base of support ADL and the period of the day, which they associate
of the seated posture [11,15]. It is from this moment with the postural instability of these children. The
that the question of an optimal pelvic position arises clinical portrait gathered from collecting and analys-
For personal use only.
[18,19]. Pelvic tilt (rotation in the sagittal plane), ing the data may assist in improving postural stability
pelvic obliquity (rotation in the frontal plane) and of seated children with CP in the future.
pelvic rotation in the transverse plane are the three
movements that clinicians try to control to allow an
upright, stable and functional position. An inade- Methods
quate position of the pelvis can lead to trunk
deformities, which one must try to prevent at all Participants
costs [19]. However, the difficulty of maintaining the
pelvis in a stable position is a reality frequently To be included in the study, the children had to have
reported by many clinicians [32–35]. a clearly established diagnosis of CP, use a wheel-
In CP, the abnormally high muscle tone around chair seating on a permanent basis and understand
the pelvic and thigh regions and the resulting simple instructions. The subjects were recruited by
postural instability call for the use of external the therapists working in three specialised schools for
stabilisation components. The most common and handicapped children of the area of Montreal,
simplest prescribed intervention for anterior pelvic Canada. A total of 53 children corresponded to the
stabilisation is the lap belt. Empirical evidence inclusion criteria. From these children, 15 refused to
regarding its efficacy is inconclusive and some take part, four were not available at the moment of
concerns about its utility, misuse and safety have the study and three were withdrawn by the research-
been reported [10,35]. A review of the clinical and ers because they were using their wheelchair for long
research literature relating to anterior pelvic seating distances only. Thus, 31 children with CP, as well as
components highlighted the scarcity of research in their parents and therapists, took part in the study.
this domain and emphasised the need for further The protocol was approved by the ethical committee
studies [35]. Most of the research in seating deals of Sainte-Justine Hospital and the Montreal School
with the aetiology, epidemiology and prevention of Board. Informed consent was obtained from all the
pressure sores whereas little is known about the children, parents and clinicians before the study.
effects of seating components on body alignment,
sitting stability and functional independence [36].
Nevertheless, some studies related to seated posture Experimental protocol
of children with CP did evaluate the immediate effect
of seating components or postural changes (seat to As a first step, four questionnaires were developed
back or tilt angles changes) on functional indepen- through clinical experience by the research team.
dence, muscle tone and breathing [9,20,21,23, The first questionnaire was designed to draw up the
Seating stability of children with CP 145
clinical profile (impairment type and severity, age, tionnaires were then sent to the clinicians to be re-
sex, height and weight) of the children and the tested before the completion of the finalised versions.
second one described the characteristics of their A summary of the main questions found in ques-
seating system and wheelchair. These different tionnaires three (parents) and four (therapists) is
characteristics were documented on a check list presented in Table I. The children were said to be
and pictures were taken of the seating system and of stable when they could remain seated at the bottom
the children seated in it. The last two questionnaires of their wheelchair seating and maintain an upright
outlined the seated postural stability and life habits of seated posture without having a tendency to slide or
the children with regard to the use of their seating fall forward or sideways.
system (as perceived by the clinicians and parents). A
focus group was held to validate the content of the
questionnaires [39]. A moderate sized group of nine Results
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commercially available system (Jay 2 Back (9 Table II. Seating components used by the majority of the subjects:
number (percentage) of subjects who own these components and
subjects), Infinity DualFlex10 (2 subjects), with a
among them, number (percentage) who use these components at
rigid seat interface and various seat cushions) and home.
one had an adjustable tension backrest. A rigid seat
and rigid backrest interfaces were used, respectively, n (%) of
by 29 and 30 subjects. Seating component n (%) use at home
The seat to backrest angle was set between 908 Armrests 31 (100) 31 (100)
and 958 for 81% of the children and the tilt angle, Footrests 31 (100) 26 (84)
in the sagittal plane, between 48 and 118 (a powered Head support 29 (94) 28 (97)
tilt system was used by four subjects). All children Lateral thoracic supports 26 (84) 26 (100)
Medial knee support 26 (84) 26 (100)
used a pelvic belt (a 2 point belt, mounted at 458 to Lateral pelvic or thigh supports 25 (81) 25 (100)
the seat surface over the greater trochanters was Pelvic belt 31 (100) 31 (100)
used in 71% of the subjects; a 1 point belt, Heel support 21 (68) 21 (100)
mounted at 458 to the seat surface over the greater Ankle support 23 (74) 16 (70)
trochanters in 19% of the subjects; a 908 belt, Anterior thoracic support 20 (65) 11 (55)
Ankle foot orthosis 25 (81) 11 (44)
perpendicular to the thighs in 3% of the subjects
and an abdominal belt in 6% of the subjects). Some
other components were used by the majority of the
subjects, as presented in Table II. Finally, 68% of
the children were using a powered wheelchair and wheelchair 11 h per day and they spent 10 h in bed.
32% a manual wheelchair. Only 10 subjects (32%) were able to sit down
elsewhere than in their wheelchair and seven of them
needed external supports such as pillows or parent’s
Life habits of the subjects toward the use of their postural arms. They sat down on couches, Lazy Boys, regular
components chairs, on their parent’s lap or on the floor. Some
used a standing aid or an adapted chair. All were
All the children used their seating system at home using a wheelchair seating system but none used a
and school. On average, they were seated in their postural component when lying down. The majority
Seating stability of children with CP 147
of the children (73%) changed their position during all the subjects who had a pelvic obliquity also had a
the night and 67% could do this by themselves. pelvic rotation. Some parameters were recognised by
With regard to the use of the seating system at the clinicians as being related to the loss of stability.
home, some parents explained that their children Inadequacy of seating components (mainly the pelvic
needed a break from all the straps or belts when they belt), central hypotonia, voluntary sliding (to effec-
returned from school. Thus, 43% of the subjects did tuate a change of sitting position) and poor trunk
not use all their belts or straps at home. Among stability were identified as being the cause of poster-
them, 45% were not using the anterior thoracic ior pelvic tilt and sliding in 60, 53, 53 and 47% of the
support (chest strap, shoulder strap, chest harness) subjects, respectively. Muscle tone asymmetry was
and 30% were not using the ankle straps. All the recognised as a causal factor for pelvic rotation in
children did use their pelvic belt. As regards the 64% of the children and for pelvic obliquity in 63%
other seating components, the lateral pelvic or thigh, of them. Inadequacy of the pelvic belt was also
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medial knee and lateral thoracic supports and the blamed in 33% of the children with pelvic obliquity
armrests were also used by all the children who had or rotation. Globally, a pelvic instability was found in
one or more of these components installed on their 84% of the subjects and the inadequacy of the pelvic
system. The head support was used by 97% of them belt was reported in 62% of them. In a similar way to
and the footrests by 84%. Ankle foot orthosis were the parents, trunk lateral flexion was reported in 28%
also worn by 81% of the children but only 44% of the of the subjects. The clinicians also described the
latter were always wearing them at home (Table II). trunk geometry and thus reported the presence of a
kyphosis in 36% of the subjects and of a scoliosis in
32% of them.
Postural stability
The first part of the clinicians’ and parents’ ques- Instability versus activities of daily living and seated
tionnaires was related to seated stability, defined as tolerance
For personal use only.
Percentage of subjects
Dressing * 22 22
Combing * 19 11
Washing himself * 19 11
*Not computed because of variations in the level of independence and the fact that these activities were not always carried out in the
wheelchair.
himself and combing), the level of independence The majority of the subjects (87%) were qualified
varied from one child to another. Moreover, these as unstable by their parents or clinicians, while in
activities were not always carried out in the wheel- their wheelchair seating. These results support what
For personal use only.
chair. For these reasons, the percentages of inde- is reported in the clinical literature, ascertaining the
pendent subjects were not computed but they were difficulty to intervene in an optimal way to effectively
the lowest. control the seated posture of children with CP
The parents of 58% of the unstable subjects [13,33,35]. It is also well-recognised that the pelvis
reported that their children seated tolerance was is the base of support of the seated posture [11,15].
decreased because of their instability. The clinicians However, in children with CP, abnormally high
made this observation in 28% of the children. muscle tone around the pelvic and thighs regions is
often present and results in postural instability. The
difficulty of maintaining the pelvis in a stable position
Discussion is a reality frequently reported in these children
[32,35]. A high percentage of the children having
The results presented yield information about taking part in this study (80%) had an abnormally
clinicians’ and parents’ views that helps broaden high muscle tone around the pelvic and thighs region
our understanding on the stability of children with and a trunk hypotonia, which resulted in pelvic
CP in their seating system. They also give further instability. It was therefore not surprising to find
information on the use of these seating systems at sliding and posterior pelvic tilt, pelvic obliquity and
home. The contents of the four questionnaires used pelvic rotation as being the main problems of
in the study were validated via a focus group instability encountered by them. In seating, this
involving seating specialists. Meaningful knowledge resulting postural instability calls for the use of
thus ensued from this study. external stabilisation components [10,35]. The most
Despite some small differences, the answers of the common and simplest prescribed intervention for
parents and clinicians related to postural stability anterior pelvic stabilisation is the pelvic belt but
were very similar. However, their perception of the empirical evidence regarding its efficacy is incon-
influence of seated postural stability on ADL and clusive and some concerns about its utility, misuse
seated tolerance was quite different (86 vs. 44% and and safety have also been mentioned [10,35]. In the
58 vs. 28%). These differences can be explained by actual study, all the children were using a pelvic belt.
the fact that most ADL are mainly carried out at When pelvic instability was attributed to the inade-
home, leaving to the parents a greater opportunity to quacy of a seating component, the pelvic belt was
observe their child. Furthermore, in a school setting, blamed in 73% of the cases. Furthermore, its use by
lack of observation time also forms part of the daily various caregivers was reported to be very incon-
reality of the clinicians, and this can also account for sistent and it was often badly adjusted, difficult to
these differences. attach adequately or losing its adjustments with time.
Seating stability of children with CP 149
Research is thus needed to better understand the Future work will address ways to objectively measure
factors associated with pelvic instability and to find postural instability of children in the seated posture
more effective pelvic stabilisers. to better evaluate the efficacy of seating components.
Impaired postural control can largely interfere
with ADL [7]. The use of a seating system has been
shown to be essential to improve the functional Conclusion
performance of children with CP [1,6–10]. However,
because of their remaining instability in the seated Outcome research in the field of wheelchair seating
position, the children involved in this study experi- is of primary importance. The objective of the
enced some difficulties in performing various activ- present study was to characterise the postural
ities (Table III). Many of the children also became stability of children with CP in their seating system,
unstable while carrying out some of these activities. by the means of questionnaires addressed to their
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As an example, all the subjects were able to drive parents and clinicians and to identify the para-
their wheelchair but this activity created instability in meters, which they associated with the postural
70% of them. When looking at the unstable powered instability of these children. The parents and
and manual wheelchair users separately, 89% of the therapists of 31 children with CP were involved in
manual wheelchair users became unstable when the project. A high percentage of instability was
propelling compared with 61% of the powered reported by the parents and clinicians of the
wheelchair drivers. Propelling a manual wheelchair children (70 and 81% respectively). This instability
would thus be more destabilising for these children mainly occurred less than half an hour after the
than driving a powered chair. Moreover, 41% of transfer of the children in his wheelchair or varied
them were driving their wheelchair with difficulty according to activities, emotions, efforts or days.
because of their instability. Without seated stability, Sliding and posterior pelvic tilt, pelvic obliquity and
upper extremity function is restricted [8,10,11]. This pelvic rotation were identified as being the main
might have also interfered with their functional problems of instability encountered by these chil-
For personal use only.
performance as among the 93% of the children dren. Because this instability interfered with their
who could reach or grasp objects independently, motor function and daily living activities, future
67% of them had difficulty with this task because of research is needed to better understand the para-
their instability. Although they were experiencing meters associated with postural stability of children
some difficulties in achieving their ADL while using with CP in the seated posture to improve their
their seating system, 97% of the children could not motor and functional skills.
remain seated without its use or without the addition
of external components such as pillows. Adaptive
seating thus enhanced their independence in various Acknowledgements
ADL, as showed in the literature [1]. However,
Table III highlighted the relationship between This work was supported by the Canadian Institutes
instability and performing ADL and the importance of Health Research (CIHR, MOP – 62938) and
to improve stability of these children, to facilitate MENTOR CIHR training program. The authors
their motor and functional skills in a more effective wish to acknowledge the collaboration of the
way. clinicians from Marie Enfant rehabilitation centre,
All the children involved in this study used their Jean-Piaget, Victor-Doré and Joseph-Charbonneau
seating system everyday, for an average of 11 h per schools. A special acknowledgement is extended to
day. They were using it at home and school but its the subjects who participated in this study.
use varied from one child to another. If one excludes
the anterior thoracic supports and the ankle foot
orthosis, which were not always used at home, the References
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