Sensory Integration Disorders and Balance Deficits in Children with Unilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy: Review Article

Background: Sensory processing refers to receiving, arranging, and interpreting sensory stimuli from the sensory system. Any aberration in this process affects the brain’s interpretation of the information that comes in and the response that follows, resulting in an inappropriate emotional, behavior and motor reactions. This may impair social participation, adaptive responses, and motor skill development. Most children with spastic hemiplegia have associated sensory deficits.
Objective: This article aimed to throw the light on Sensory Integration Disorders and Balance Deficits in Children with Unilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy.
Methods: A thorough search was carried out in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct for Cerebral palsy, Unilateral spastic cerebral palsy, Sensory integration disordersand Balance deficits through the period from 2001 to 2025. Only the most recent or comprehensive study was considered. Oral presentations, dissertations, conference abstracts, and unpublished papers are a few examples of works that weren't considered important scientific study. Documents published in languages other than English were ignored as a result of lack of translation resources.
Conclusion: Hemiplegia refers to the paralysis affecting single side of the body. It leads to muscular atrophy on the affected side, hinders gait, diminishes motor skills, and induces instability along with a decline in grip strength. Hemiplegia adversely affects the patient's QOL by impairing cerebral and spinal cord functions. Children suffering hemiplegic CP demonstrate elevated muscle tone, resulting in compromised postural control. Postural control is crucial for sustaining posture along with balance throughout bipedal walking. The maintenance of balance relies on the ongoing integration of the musculoskeletal as well as neurological systems, which provide visual, somatosensory, as well as vestibular information. This integration is impaired among patients suffering hemiplegic CP due to its impact on both key systems, adversely affecting balance.