Effects of anterior-tipped seating on respiratory function of normal children and children with cerebral palsy

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the respiratory parameters of tidal volume, respiration rate, and minute ventilation of a group of six normal children and a group of six children with spastic cerebral palsy, in response to two seat base positions: (1) flat, and (2) anterior-tipped. Respiratory inductance plethysmography was used to record respiratory parameters. The results demonstrated significant differences in tidal volume and minute ventilation between the groups in the anterior-tipped seat condition. No significant differences in respiratory parameters could be attributed to seat base position within either the normal or cerebral palsied subjects. Implications are discussed in relation to the anterior seat base design, group data analysis methods and individual data profiles, and the impact of these results for future research and practice.