[Purpose] To observe the effect of daily standing, as indicated by gross motor function,
on the quantity and quality of the thigh muscles in adults with severe cerebral palsy and
to obtain data to determine an appropriate intervention that will improve their quality of
life. [Participants and Methods] Thirty-three adults with severe cerebral palsy
participated in the study. We assessed the gross motor function using the GMFM-66-IS. We
then evaluated the quadriceps muscle thickness and the rectus femoris muscle echo
intensity using ultrasonography. We divided the participants into the standing and
non-standing groups and then examined the correlations of the GMFM-66-IS score to muscle
thickness and echo intensity. We calculated the difference in mean muscle thickness and
echo intensity between the two groups using an independent t-test. [Results] Significant
positive correlations were found between the GMFM-66-IS score and muscle thickness and
echo intensity. In the group-specific analysis, no significant correlation was found
between echo intensity and the GMFM-66-IS score in either group. Muscle thickness and echo
intensity were greater in the participants of the standing group. [Conclusion] Daily
standing, as indicated by gross motor function, affected muscle thickness and echo
intensity. Quantitative and qualitative data might need to be evaluated when assessing the
muscles of adults with severe cerebral palsy using ultrasonography.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.