The relationship between the head movement in sagittal plane and the upper extremity function in children with spastic cerebral palsy

The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between head movement in sagittal plane and quality of upper extremities in children with spastic CP. The 32 spastic CP children aged from 3 to 12 years in the I-III level according to the Gross Motor Functional Classification System (GMFCS) were included in the study. The demographic features of children (gender, birth date, body height, body weight, health problems) were recorded as per the informations had been provided by respective parents of the children. Trunk control was evaluated with Trunk Control Measurement Scale (TCMS), quality of upper extremities functions were evaluated with Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test (QUEST), and head movement in sagittal plane was observed with Coach Eye's application. Moreover, gross motor functions were classified according to Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). According to the results of the study, there was a negative correlation between head movement in sagittal plane and upper extremities functions in hemiparetic and diparetic CP (p<0.05). However, there was also negatice correlation between head movement in sagittal plane and upper extremities functions in tetraparetic CP, but it was not statically significant important ( p ≥0.05). Additionally, there was a negative correlation between trunk control and head movement in hemiparetic and diparetic CP (p <0,05), whereas not correlation in tetraparetic CP ( p≥0.05).