The severity of chewing disorders is related to gross motor function and trunk control in children with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Purpose: The frequency of chewing disorders increases with decreasing level of gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Besides its frequency, the severity of chewing disorders is also important. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between chewing performance level and gross motor function, and trunk postural control in children with CP.

Materials and methods: The study included 119 children with CP (age 2–10 years). Chewing performance level was determined by the Karaduman Chewing Performance Scale (KCPS). The Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) was used to determine the level of gross motor function. Segmental Assessment of Trunk Control (SATCo) was used to measure trunk control.

Results: Children with spastic CP with a median age of 4 years were evaluated, of which 50.4% were male. The percentages of patients classified to GMFCS levels I to V were 43.7%, 6.7%, 9.2%, 5.0%, and 35.3%, respectively. The median KCPS score was 3 (min = 0, max = 4). A good correlation was found between KCPS and GMFCS (p < .001, r = 0.70). Negative, excellent correlations between KCPS and SATCo static, SATCo active, and SATCo reactive postural controls were found (p < .001, r = –0.75, r = –0.77, r = –0.79; respectively).

Conclusions: The severity of chewing disorders is related to the level of gross motor function and trunk postural control in children with CP.

Clinical trial number: NCT03241160

Keywords:

• Cerebral palsy
• chewing
• motor function

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to the children and parents who participated and consented to join this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with 1964 Helsinki decoration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.