Functional performance of children with cerebral palsy undergoing multidisciplinary treatment

Abstract

Cerebral palsy (CP) is described as a set of postural and movement disorders that cause functional limitations; it is assigned to non-progressive, changeable disorders due to immature brain injury. The purpose of the study was to assess functional dimensions affected and the evolution over a four-month period of gross motor function of children with CP undergoing multidisciplinary treatment. The sample was made up by 27 children (mean age 7.6 years) who attended the Pestalozzi Association of Goiania, GO. Severity level was assessed by the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS); the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) was applied at study onset and four months later. Results show that 55.6% of children were in GMFCS levels IV and V; children showed a positive gross motor function evolution in all GMFM dimensions, except in the skills at the sitting position - suggesting that position changes and locomotion should be focussed in multidisciplinary treatment of these children with CP.