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

  1. Tania E. Sakanaka
  2. Penelope B. Butler
  3. Richa Kulshrestha
  4. Tracey Willis
  5. Ian D. Loram
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Abstract

Aim

To 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.

Methods

In 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).

Results

SATCo 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.

Interpretation

The 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 adds

  • Neutral vertical head/trunk control was different between NMD and TD children

  • SATCo is sensitive to head/trunk control differences between NMD and TD children

  • Ambulant children with NMD showed measurable head/trunk control deficit at various segments

  • SATCo detected subtle head/trunk control changes in early disease stages of NMD

  • Active segmental trunk control declines with increasing age in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Article activity feed

  1. Version published to 10.1101/2025.03.12.25322083v1 on medRxiv