Postural Stability in Pediatric Palliative Care: Effects of an Individualized Physiotherapy Program in a Child with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to investigate the evolution of postural stability in a child with Cerebral Palsy within a pediatric palliative care context, using the Stability domain of the MotriCore instrument. Previous studies have shown that balance and trunk stabilization interventions improve motor performance in children with CP; however, traditional tools often fail to capture subtle yet clinically relevant changes in palliative settings. A prospective single-case design was applied to a 12-year-old child (GMFCS level III) who participated in a 12-week individualized physiotherapy program targeting trunk control, balance, and task-oriented activities. Stability was assessed pre- and post-intervention using quantitative and qualitative measures. The Stability score increased from 8/15 to 11/15, with significant improvements across all items. Qualitative findings indicated enhanced trunk activation, improved postural alignment, reduced compensatory strategies, and increased tolerance to sustained activities. The findings suggest that targeted physiotherapy can generate meaningful functional improvements, even in complex pediatric palliative conditions. The study supports the sensitivity of the MotriCore tool in detecting subtle, domain-specific changes and highlights the relevance of individualized rehabilitation approaches.