Assessment of Seated Postural Control in Children: Comparison of a Force Platform Versus a Pressure Mapping System
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.
aGait and Posture Laboratory, Marie Enfant Rehabilitation Centre, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada
bDepartment of Kinesiology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
cDepartment of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
dCentre for Clinical Epidemiology and Community Studies, SMBD-Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
eDepartment of Surgery, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
Correspondence to François Prince, PhD, Laboratoire de Posture et de Locomotion, Centre de réadaptation Marie Enfant, 5200 rue Bélanger E, Montréal, QC H1T 1C9, Canada
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.
ABSTRACT