Training postural and gait balance control in children with Cerebral Palsy: associations between brain structural metrics and motor behavior

When an injury occurs to the developing brain, as in Cerebral Palsy (CP), children experience deficits in motor control. Poor postural control is a primary deficit in CP with a large impact on a child’s daily life, since it is crucial for gait and, thus, greatly affects the risk of falls. To improve their quality of life, adequate treatment is essential. However, the success of treatment greatly depends on the knowledge of the underlying causes of the deficit. With this research proposal, I will be first to unravel the network of brain structures related to balance control in CP. I expect that training improves balance control in CP. Therefore, I will investigate whether a randomized controlled balance training can promote postural and gait balance control in CP children, using clinical and experimental measures. I will use the latest serious gaming products for balance training to ensure motivation and dedication. Using medical imaging techniques I will examine whether advances in balance control are supported by neuroplastic changes in brain structure. As some children will be less responsive to training, it is hypothesized that the combination of behavioral and neurological assessments will allow for the identification of the underlying causes of responsiveness. There is no similar initiative being undertaken, underscoring its highly innovative potential. Our findings may lead to the development of more effective rehabilitation strategies to enhance balance control in CP.