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Impact of core stability education on postural control in children with spastic cerebral palsy

Abstract

Background

Postural control includes controlling the body’s position in space to achieve stability and orientation. Core stability education is applied to teach children to improve balance and postural control.

Objective

The objective of this study was to detect the impact of core stability education on postural control in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP).

Patients and methods

Thirty spastic CP children (6–8 years) received intervention in the outpatient clinic of Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University.

Intervention

The participants were randomly divided into a control group and a study group; the control group received selective therapeutic exercises, while the study group received the same selective program in addition to core stability exercises three times/week for 60 min for 12 weeks.

Main outcome measures

Dynamic balance was assessed by Biodex Balance System before and after treatment (12 weeks).

Results

There was a significant improvement of all stability indices (anteroposterior, mediolateral, and overall) in each group. There was more improvement in the study group when comparing post-treatment values of both groups (P<0.05).

Conclusion

According to the results of the current study, core stability program is highly recommended to be included in the treatment program of spastic CP children to improve balance.

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Correspondence to Mostafa S. Ali.

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Ali, M. Impact of core stability education on postural control in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Bull Fac Phys Ther 24, 85–89 (2019). https://doi.org/10.4103/bfpt.bfpt_25_18

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