Derya AZİM, Emine ATICI
Annals of Clinical and Analytical Medicine - 2026;17(10):1046-1050
Aim: This study aims to investigate the relationship between the viscoelastic properties of the lower extremity muscles and balance in children with CP. Methods: Conducted between May and September 2023, this descriptive study included 16 children with Spastic CP treated at a private center in İstanbul. Muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity of the hamstring, gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior muscles were assessed using Myoton Pro, and balance was evaluated with the Pediatric Berg Balance Scale. Spearman correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between muscle biomechanics and balance. Results: The average age of the children was 8.63 +/- 2.85 years. The mean tone, elasticity, and stiffness of the hamstring were 15.89 +/- 2.17, 244.19 +/- 51.18, and 0.85 +/- 0.12, respectively. For the Gastrocnemius, they were 14.16 +/- 3.77, 244.38 +/- 47.25, and 0.89 +/- 0.13. For the Tibialis Anterior, they were 19.05 +/- 2.28, 393.44 +/- 78.48, and 1.12 +/- 0.19. Negative correlations were found between muscle tone and stiffness of the Hamstring ( r = -0.446; -0.411; P = .004; 0.04), Gastrocnemius ( r = -0.307; -0.181; P = .002; 0.004), and Tibialis Anterior ( r = -0.138; -0.364; P = .001; 0.003) with balance. No significant correlation was found between muscle elasticity and balance. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that children with higher muscle tone and stiffness may have more pronounced balance problems. Therefore, rehabilitation programs should be tailored to individual needs and include specific strategies for managing muscle tone.
