Prevalence of bodily functional changes in children with cerebral palsy, Fortaleza, Ceará, 2006

Functional changes are present at a very young age in children with neurological disorders and the more severe the disease, the higher the degree of dysfunction. The present study aimed at investigating changes in the bodily functions of children with cerebral palsy (CP) treated at an early stimulation health clinic in the city of Fortaleza using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) in order to detect possible interference in the functional performance. Thirty-two children with mild or moderate CP, aged ≥ 3 years, underwent continuous physical therapy treatment. The neurological impairment was varied: 43.7% (14) did not present cognitive deficit, 50% (16) showed mild attention deficit, 37.5% (12) had mild motor coordination difficulties and 56.2% (18) had moderate motor difficulties. Mild alteration of affection was observed in 59.3% (19) and in 53.1% (17), mild perceptive deficiency. Mild language deficits were present in 25% (8) and moderate ones in 15.6% (5). Around 60% suffered from visual deficiency and 81.2% had a proprioceptive dysfunction; 78.1% (25) presented mild respiratory alterations and 62.5% (20) had food intake difficulties. Joint mobility was compromised in 68.75% (22) and stability in 53% of them. Moderate muscular strength deficit was observed in 62.5% (20) of the hemiparetic group, 59.3% (19) of the paraparetic, and 71.8% (24) of the tetraparetic group. Recent studies have focused on the neurological and functional impact of CP, although most of them were directed at the disease itself and its consequences. Studies such as the present one are timely for understanding the functional capacities and limitations of children with CP.