Trunk control status in children with neuromuscular disorders and typically developing children: is there a measurable difference?

AimTo test sensitivity of the Segmental Assessment of Trunk Control (SATCo) to changes in neutral vertical (NV) head and trunk control in children with neuromuscular disorders (NMD) and compared with typically developing (TD) children. MethodsIn this observational cross-sectional study, SATCo was applied in 19 children with NMD (10y6m(3y7m), 2 female) and 19 TD children (7y10m(4y12m), 6 female). Statistical differences between condition (NMD and TD), segment (seven trunk segments), and control type (static, active, and reactive control), and relationship between age and SATCo outcomes were analysed with linear mixed-effects models (LME). ResultsSATCo scores were measurably different between conditions (F(1,39.6)=151.0,p<.001), segments (F(6,138.3)=23.3,p<.001), control type (F(2,33.0)=6.3,p=.005), and interactions condition segment (F(6,138.3)=23.3,p<.001) and condition control type (F(2,33.0)=6.3,p=.005). A significant relationship between decreasing active control and increasing age in 10 children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy confirmed measurable decline in trunk control following diagnosis. InterpretationThe results showed that SATCo is sensitive to differences in trunk control status in NMD. While still ambulatory, children with NMD presented already a measurable trunk control deficit at varying segments. SATCo has potential as an outcome measure for therapeutic interventions or effectiveness of treatments promoting NV trunk control in children with NMD and needs further study. What this paper addsO_LINeutral vertical head/trunk control was different between NMD and TD children C_LIO_LISATCo is sensitive to head/trunk control differences between NMD and TD children C_LIO_LIAmbulant children with NMD showed measurable head/trunk control deficit at various segments C_LIO_LISATCo detected subtle head/trunk control changes in early disease stages of NMD C_LIO_LIActive segmental trunk control declines with increasing age in Duchenne muscular dystrophy C_LI