Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 87, Issue 12 , Pages 1623-1629, December 2006

Assessment of Seated Postural Control in Children: Comparison of a Force Platform Versus a Pressure Mapping System

  • Michèle Lacoste, BSc, OT

      Affiliations

    • Gait and Posture Laboratory, Marie Enfant Rehabilitation Centre, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada
    • ,
  • Marc Therrien, BSc

      Affiliations

    • Gait and Posture Laboratory, Marie Enfant Rehabilitation Centre, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada
    • Department of Kinesiology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
    • ,
  • Julie N. Côté, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Gait and Posture Laboratory, Marie Enfant Rehabilitation Centre, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada
    • Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
    • ,
  • Ian Shrier, MD

      Affiliations

    • Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Community Studies, SMBD-Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
    • ,
  • Hubert Labelle, MD

      Affiliations

    • Gait and Posture Laboratory, Marie Enfant Rehabilitation Centre, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada
    • ,
  • François Prince, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Gait and Posture Laboratory, Marie Enfant Rehabilitation Centre, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada
    • Department of Kinesiology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
    • Department of Surgery, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to François Prince, PhD, Laboratoire de Posture et de Locomotion, Centre de réadaptation Marie Enfant, 5200 rue Bélanger E, Montréal, QC H1T 1C9, Canada

Abstract 

Lacoste M, Therrien M, Côté JN, Shrier I, Labelle H, Prince F. Assessment of seated postural control in children: comparison of a force platform versus a pressure mapping system.

Objective

To establish the validity and reliability of a pressure mapping system to measure seated postural control in children.

Design

A concurrent validity and reliability study.

Setting

Gait and posture laboratory of a rehabilitation center.

Participants

Thirteen able-bodied children volunteers.

Intervention

Measurements were taken on a seating simulator in quiet sitting and while reaching. The localization of the center of pressure (COP) in the anteroposterior and mediolateral directions was measured simultaneously by means of a pressure mapping system and a force platform.

Main Outcome Measures

Concurrent validity was first assessed by Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients and then by Student paired t tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank test (P<.05) on the range and root mean square (RMS) amplitudes of COP. Reliability was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients and coefficients of variation.

Results

The COP signals were significantly correlated between both instruments for the RMS and range in both tasks and directions (mean r≥.87) and for the time series while reaching (r≥.99), as well as during quiet sitting (r≥65). Both instruments showed generally fair to good reliability in quiet sitting and excellent reliability when reaching.

Conclusions

The pressure mapping system can detect the COP displacement as effectively as the force platform. In a clinical context, it could help in the evaluation of seated stability and also help in evaluating the efficacy of seating components for wheelchair users.

Key Words: Equilibrium, Musculoskeletal system, Posture, Rehabilitation, Wheelchairs

 

 Supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (grant no. IMH-60915), and Fonds de Recherche en Santé du Québec.No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the author(s) or upon any organization with which the author(s) is/are associated.Reprints are not available from the author.

PII: S0003-9993(06)01327-X

doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2006.08.344

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 87, Issue 12 , Pages 1623-1629, December 2006

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