Cognitive-Motor Dual-Task Costs on Postural Sway During Sit-to-Stand Movement in Children With Cerebral Palsy.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the cognitive-motor dual-task costs (DTCs) on postural sway of children with typical development (TD) and children with cerebral palsy (CP) during the sit-to-stand movement.

METHODS: Twenty children with TD (mean age = 9.35 years) and 17 children with CP (mean age = 8.29 years) randomly performed 3 test conditions: simple motor task, low-complexity cognitive-motor dual-task, and high-complexity cognitive-motor dual-task. The sit-to-stand movement was divided into 3 phases for data analysis: preparation (P1), rising (P2), and stabilization (P3). For each of these phases, the DTCs were calculated by the percentage change in the center of pressure area of sway, velocity of sway, and duration variables between the simple and dual-task conditions. Analysis of variance was applied to test the group, task conditions, and interaction effects.

RESULTS: Children with CP had lower DTC than children with TD in area of sway in P1 and P2 variables; anteroposterior velocity of sway in P1, P2, and P3; and duration in P3. Children with TD had higher DTC in the high-complexity cognitive-motor dual-task than in the low complexity one. Children with CP did not show adaptations between the dual-task conditions, showing no differences in DTCs.

CONCLUSION: The simultaneous performance of a motor task and a cognitive task seems to affect children with CP and children with TD differently, but the effects depend on the specific demands of each task. These results demonstrate the importance of rehabilitation actions to place demands involving a variety of postural sway strategies.

IMPACT: DTCs are different for children with TD and children with CP. Assessment and rehabilitation strategies must take into account the postural sway behavior of these children.