Five-year follow-up of functional sitting position in children with cerebral palsy.

Ten children with cerebral palsy (CP) were videotaped and photographed after the introduction to a functional sitting position (FSP--defined as a position in which children with CP could gain head-, trunk- and foot-control and the maximum degree of independent function when performing arm and hand movements during tasks) and again five years later. Head-, trunk- and foot-control, and arm- and hand-function were assessed from video-tapes by the Sitting Assessment Scale. The eight children who had been using the FSP throughout this period showed slight but significant improvement; the remaining two had deteriorated. Since all 10 children had undergone similar rehabilitation programmes, it is concluded that sitting in an FSP contributed to their improvement in the ability to use the hand and arm.