Superficies de apoyo en la activación del área cervical en parálisis cerebral infantil

Introduction: Electrophysiological alterations in patients with infantile cerebral palsy affect motor control of different muscle groups, and cause involuntary movements and limb stiffness. The characteristics of electromyographic signals allow the recognition of muscular information; however, the influence of posture on signal recording requires further exploration. Objective: To quantify and contrast the energy level of muscle activations in patients with infantile cerebral palsy by means of a cervical flexion-extension exercise on different support surfaces. Methods: Electromyographic recording was obtained in a cohort of seven patients with infantile cerebral palsy during two different recording sessions. The energy value of the signals was studied through numerical analysis in the time and frequency domains. Results: The energy per support surface was 0.17 (0.08-0.77) with a roller; 0.19 (0.08-0.64) with a wedge; 0.21 (0.14-0.44) with a ball and 0.32 (0.12-1.43) without a support surface. When comparing the results per patient, the support surface generated greater variability, with a p-value > 0.05 in 19 of 28 measurements performed. Conclusions: The applied methodology constitutes a promising tool to complement the diagnostic process and muscle assessment in different areas of physiotherapy and rehabilitation.