@article{ref1,
title="Relationship between balance abilities and gait characteristics in children with post-traumatic brain injury",
journal="Brain injury",
year="2008",
author="Katz-Leurer, Michal and Rotem, Hemda and Lewitus, Hana and Keren, Ofer and Meyer, Shirley",
volume="22",
number="2",
pages="153-159",
abstract="OBJECTIVES: To quantify the differences in gait variability and balance performance between typically developed (TD) children and children with post-traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to determine the association between gait variability and functional balance in both groups. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Physical therapy department of a paediatric and adolescent rehabilitation hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 24 children post-TBI and 24 TD age and sex matched controls. INTERVENTION: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Step length, step time and base width variability measured with an electronic walkway; timed up and go (TUG) test and functional reach test (FRT) as a functional balance test. RESULTS: Base width and step time variability showed no significant difference between the groups. However, children post-TBI had significantly greater variability in step length in comparison to healthy controls. The functional balance abilities of children post-TBI were significantly limited compared to TD children. A significant linear inverse correlation was found between balance performance and step length variability only among children with a TBI. CONCLUSION: Ambulatory children post-severe TBI had decreased balance performance, decreased gait speed and increased step length variability as compared to age-matched healthy controls.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0269-9052",
doi="10.1080/02699050801895399",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02699050801895399"
}