K. Kowalski et Rp. Difabio, GROSS MOTOR AND BALANCE IMPAIRMENTS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH EPILEPSY, Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 37(7), 1995, pp. 604-619
The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of age, seizu
re type and anticonvulsant medication protocol on balance and motor pr
oficiency in 21 subjects with epilepsy (aged seven to 17 years) who di
d not have mental retardation or cerebral palsy. The Bruininks-Oserets
ky balance subtest and a force platform with computer-controlled feedb
ack of the center of force were used to evaluate balance and goal-orie
nted motion during static and dynamic motor tasks. These motor profici
ency and balance assessments may be useful to 'unmask' deficits in mot
or performance associated with epilepsy, assist the evaluation of anti
convulsant side-effects, and serve as one guide for developing a compr
ehensive rehabilitation program.