Affiliations: Department of Physical Therapy, Yeungnam College of
Science and Technology, Daegu, Korea | Department of Physical Therapy, College of
Rehabilitation Science, Daegu University, Kyeongbuk, Korea
Note: [] Corresponding author: Hye Young Lee, PhD, PT, Department of
Rehabilitation Science, Daegu University 15, Jilyang, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongbuk,
712-714, Korea. Tel.: +82 53 850 4668; Fax: +82 53 850 4359; E-mail:
happypt@hanmail.net
Abstract: PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences
between respiratory function in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) and
children with normal development, and to compare respiratory function between
children with spastic diplegic and those with hemiplegic CP. METHOD: Fourteen children with spastic diplegic CP, 14 children with
spastic hemiplegic CP, and 14 normal children were enrolled, whose age, gender,
height, weight, and body surface area were matched. All participants performed
respiratory function tests by inhaling a breath and then blowing the entire
volume through a spirometer, as deeply and rapidly as possible. RESULTS: In general, children with spastic diplegic CP and those
with hemiplegic CP showed lower respiratory function compared to children with
normal development. In comparison between children with spastic CP and those
with hemiplegic CP, statistical significance was observed only in FVC,
FEV_1, and PEF. CONCLUSION: Findings revealed significantly weaker respiratory
function in children with CP as compared to normal children. In addition,
children with spastic diplegic CP showed significantly lower forced expiratory
function than those with spastic hemiplegic CP. Therefore, clinical assessment
and therapeutic intervention for respiratory function should be carefully
considered for children with spastic diplegic and hemiplegic CP.
Keywords: Spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy, respiratory function test
