Possibilities of using modern standards to assess the physical development of children with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Purpose of the study: to study the characteristics of physical development in 174 children with cerebral palsy using various rating scales (specialized centile tables, international standards of the World Health Organization, as well as regional tables). Research results. When assessed by regional standards, underweight was noted more often (29.9%) than by specialized standards only 20.7% (n = 36). According to WHO standards, excess weight was recorded more often (12.6%). Low growth was noted in 20.7% of children (n = 36) according to WHO standards (SDS < –2), of which almost a quarter (22.2%) had dwarfism (SDS < –3). When assessed by specialized standards, 11.5% of children had a significant decrease in body weight and entered the so-called «red zone». In the group of patients with moderate motor impairment (GMFCS 1—2), the proportion of children with low weight was almost the same when assessed according to WHO standards (23.9%) and specialized tables (22.4%) (p > 0.05). However, with severe motor impairment, the number of cases of underweight increased when WHO standards were applied.

Keywords

• cerebral palsy
• physical development
• nutritional status
• nutrition
• gmfcs
• gross motor function classification system