Humeral external rotation handling by using the Bobath concept approach affects trunk extensor muscles electromyography in children with cerebral palsy

• Published in: Research in developmental disabilities 2015-01, Vol.36, p.134-141
• Main Authors: Grazziotin dos Santos, C., Pagnussat, Aline S., Simon, A.S., Py, Rodrigo, Pinho, Alexandre Severo do, Wagner, Mário B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bobath concept; Cerebral palsy; Electromyography; Physiotherapy; Rehabilitation
• ISSN: 0891-4222; 1873-3379
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2014.09.013

•We examined the EMG signal of the main cervical and upper trunk muscles.•External rotation handling facilitated muscle activity.•Facilitation occurs in a GMFCS level-dependent manner. This study aimed to investigate the electromyographic activity of cervical and trunk extensors muscles in children with cerebral palsy during two handlings according to the Bobath concept. A crossover trial involving 40 spastic diplegic children was conducted. Electromyography (EMG) was used to measure muscular activity at sitting position (SP), during shoulder internal rotation (IR) and shoulder external rotation (ER) handlings, which were performed using the elbow joint as key point of control. Muscle recordings were performed at the fourth cervical (C4) and at the tenth thoracic (T10) vertebral levels. The Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) was used to assess whether muscle activity would vary according to different levels of severity. Humeral ER handling induced an increase on EMG signal of trunk extensor muscles at the C4 (P=0.007) and T10 (P