[Comparison of functional activity performance in normally developing children and children with cerebral palsy].
OBJECTIVE
To compare the pattern of self-care performance in normal children and children with cerebral palsy (CP).


METHODS
142 normal children and 33 children with CP were evaluated by 22 items from the self-care scale of the PEDI functional test. Rasch methodology transformed scores into interval measures of difficulty from 0 to 100 (logit). Spearman rank correlation coefficient compared the order of logits in the two groups.


RESULTS
Eleven items showed significant differences in the logit values received. Out of these, 7 items showed relative difficulty values greater in the group of children with CP and 4 items showed relative difficulty values greater among normal children. A significant correlation was observed in the order of the 22 items displayed in the two interval scales.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that the development of self-care functional activities may be influenced by the presence of CP. These results may support assessment and intervention strategies for children with neuromotor disorders.
Mancini
Marisa C
MC
Departamento de Terapia Ocupacional, Escola de Educação Física, Fisioterapia e Terapia Ocupacional, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil. mcmancini@metalink.com.br
Fiúza
Patrícia M
PM
Rebelo
Jerusa M
JM
Magalhães
Lívia C
LC
Coelho
Zélia A C
ZA
Paixao
Maria Lúcia
ML
Gontijo
Ana Paula B
AP
Fonseca
Sérgio T
ST
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012648:Self Care