LAUSR

PURPOSE This study evaluated the effects of an instrumented balance board on the balance parameters in children with spastic cerebral palsy by carrying out a pilot single-group pre-post clinical trial. METHODS Five children aged 5 to 15 years with spastic diplegia and a Gross Motor Function Classification System level of I or II were included. All participants attended 20 sessions with an instrumented balance board, 45 minutes per session, 3 times a week for 7 weeks. The main outcome measures included the center of pressure excursion, velocity, and overshoot during quiet standing with open and closed eyes. The assessments were performed in the mediolateral and anteroposterior directions at pre- and one week post-intervention. RESULTS Non-parametric tests showed that the excursion did not change significantly except in the mediolateral direction with eyes closed (p <  0.05). The velocity of the center of pressure improved in both directions and eye conditions (p <  0.05). Also, the maximum velocity decreased with eyes open (mediolateral, anteroposterior, and total) (p <  0.05), while the change was not significant with the eyes closed. The overshoot measurements did not change significantly. CONCLUSION It is recommended to consider balance board training for improving balance parameters in children with cerebral palsy.