Relationship between Quality of Life and Hypertonia in Young Adults with Spastic Cerebral Palsy

The complications associated with spastic cerebral palsy can affect the physical ability and quality of life of individuals suffering from this motor disorder. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between quality of life and hypertonia in adults with spastic cerebral palsy. In an analytical cross sectional study, 70 subjects with the diagnosis of spastic cerebral palsy from three Ra’ad Rehabilitation Goodwill complexes in Tehran and Karaj cities took part in this study through convenient sampling. The severity of spasticity and contracture of the knee flexors were measured by Modified Tardieu Scale. Also the quality of life was assessed through World Health Organization quality of life-BREF questionnaire. To analyze data, Pearson and spearman correlation coefficient were used. Participants of this study were 42.90% male, 57.10% female with mean age 26.24±5 years. No correlation existed between quality of life with knee flexor muscles spasticity. However, psychological and environmental domains showed low correlations with knee extension range (respectively r=0.26 and r=0.28; P<0.05). The influences of the mechanical component of hypertonia (contracture) on the quality of life are more prominent than neural factors such as spasticity.