Activities and participation of 9- to 13-year-old children with cerebral palsy.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the activities and participation of children with cerebral palsy and to examine the relationship with personal factors and disease characteristics.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of a University Medical Center in The Netherlands.


METHODS
One hundred and ten children: 70 boys, 40 girls, mean (SD) age 11 years and 3 months (20 months).


METHODS
Activities and participation, described in the domains of mobility, self-care, domestic life, social life and communication, measured with the Gross Motor Function Measure, the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales.


RESULTS
Multiple linear regression models showed that the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) was strongly associated with mobility (explained variance 87-92%), self-care and domestic life. Apart from the GMFCS, cognitive impairment and limb distribution were less important but also significantly associated with self-care and domestic life (explained variance 65-81%). Cognitive impairment and epilepsy were the most important factors associated with social life and communication (explained variance 54-75%).


CONCLUSIONS
Activities and participation can, to a large extent, be explained by only a few associated factors.
Voorman
Jeanine M
JM
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine (EMGO Institute), VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. reva@vumc.nl
Dallmeijer
Annet J
AJ
Schuengel
Carlo
C
Knol
Dirk L
DL
Lankhorst
Gustaaf J
GJ
Becher
Jules G
JG
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009048:Motor Skills; D012648:Self Care; D012919:Social Behavior