The Effect of Dual Task on Postural Control in Children Diagnosed with Epilepsy

Epilepsy is often characterized by seizures, but may also include additional neurological signs and symptoms that affect the prognosis of the disease. These clinical findings include hypotonia, athetosis, ataxia, inadequate visual-motor functioning, gait abnormalities, balance disorders and learning disabilities. In the literature, it has been reported that individuals with epilepsy who use antiepileptic drugs have more balance problems than those who do not. It is also reported that people with epilepsy exercise less than the general population and have a lower level of functionality compared to their peers. It has also been reported that there is a relationship between age at onset of epilepsy and motor problems.

Executive functions include cognitive processes that support complex, goal-directed behavior, especially in novel situations or situations that require conscious effort. In children diagnosed with epilepsy, visuospatial skills are frequently affected within the scope of executive function.

Postural control mechanism is a complex neural function consisting of the integrated function of sensory input, motor output and modulation by cerebellar and cognitive influences. Lack of coordination and postural instability, motor limitations in patients with epilepsy, and disabilities due to seizures are complaints due to side effects of antiepileptics. Inadequate postural control, which involves the orientation of the body for stabilization in space or task-oriented orientation in harmony with the environment, limits the individual's ability to adapt to the environment or unexpected situations.

An individual's postural control is often accompanied by other tasks in daily life, such as cognitive tasks. Cognitive dual task (cognitive dual task) is the ability to perform two or more cognitive and motor activities simultaneously. There are studies in the literature that address the postural control of different patient populations and healthy individuals while performing a cognitive task. To our knowledge, there is no study evaluating the postural control skills of children with epilepsy during a cognitive dual task using dynamic posturography (Biodex). In this respect, it is possible to say that our study constitutes the first study that can contribute to the literature on this subject.

15 children who are followed up with a diagnosis of epilepsy at Istanbul Faculty of Medicine Child Neurology Polyclinic and who meet the inclusion criteria will be included in the study as the study group, and 15 healthy children in the same age group will be included in the study as the control group. Informed consent will be obtained from each child and parent and the study will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.