Evaluation of motor function, communication and functional balance in children with cerebral palsy

The aim of this study is to evaluate motor function, communication and functional balance in children with CP. For this purpose, a total of 60 cerebral palsy children, 30 diplegic and 30 hemiplegic, with levels I and II according to Gross Motor Function Classification System between 4 and 18 years of age, were evaluated. All subjects were evaluated for motor function, communication and functional balance according to extremity involvement. Motor function; with the GMFCS, MACS, WeeFIM, Functional balance with PBS, TUG and STS, and communication was evaluated by the CFCS. From the motor function point of view, it was determined that the manuel ability of diplegic CP subjects were statistically significantly better than those of hemiplegic CP subjects (p<0.05). In the evaluation of functional balance, the TUG scores of the group with hemiplegic CP were found to be statistically significantly better than the group with diplegic CP (p <0.05). All CP individuals were found to be at low risk of falling. There was no significant difference in communication between children with diplegic and hemiplegic CP (p> 0.05). In children with diplegic and hemiplegic CP, improvement in motor function was found to be associated with improvement in functional balance. There was no significant relation between communication and motor function and functional balance in both groups (p> 0.05). As a result of our study, according to extremity involvement, there were differences in manuel ability and functional balance parameters in children with CP. Functional balance levels of children with CP with good motor function were found to be good in both diplegic and hemiplegic CP groups. Keywords: Cerebral palsy, communication, functional balance, motor function.