Project R-9784

Proprioception in cerebral palsy (Research)

A deficient balance in standing and gait are crucial problems in the daily life of children with cerebral palsy (CP). Several researchers have studied whether balance can be improved with motor rehabilitation, however, they revealed mixed results. The incomplete understanding of the causes of poor balance control has led to the inability to provide effective training paradigms for children with CP. The motor problems in CP (e.g. muscle weakness, spasticity) have been successfully treated, but without improvement of balance control. Hence, the goal of this proposal is to determine for the first time the proprioception deficit of the lower limbs and its relation to balance control in CP and the neural correlates of this deficit. Further, we will determine in a randomized clinical trial with double baseline whether balance control and proprioception can be improved following intensive functional proprioception or balance training. We will thereby also delineate the possible neuroplastic modulations of brain white and grey matter following training. Knowledge of these brain metrics in association with sensorimotor behavior is essential to increase the fundamental understanding of the underlying causes of poor balance control in CP and is crucial to determine the predictive factors to distinguish responders from non-responders. The knowledge gained will provide important insights in determining individualized therapeutic plans for balance and proprioception in children with CP.

01 October 2019 - 30 September 2023