title: Systematic review of the clinimetric properties of laboratory- and field-based aerobic and anaerobic fitness measures in children with cerebral palsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To systematically evaluate the level of evidence of the clinimetric properties of measures of aerobic and anaerobic capacity used for children with cerebral palsy (CP).
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic search of databases PubMed, Embase, SPORTDiscus, and PsycINFO through April 2011 was performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two independent raters identified and examined studies that reported laboratory- or field-based measures of maximal aerobic or anaerobic capacity in children with CP aged 5 to 14 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  The COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist was used by 2 independent raters to evaluate the methodologic quality of the included clinimetric studies and to identify measures used in these studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-four studies that used a maximal aerobic or anaerobic capacity measure were identified. Five studies reported clinimetric properties for 5 measures (2 aerobic and 3 anaerobic measures). Methodologic quality was excellent in 3 studies, showing good validity and reliability of field-based aerobic (Shuttle Run Test) and anaerobic (Muscle Power Sprint Test) measures. The studies on laboratory-based measures were rated fair, mainly because of inadequate statistics. The level of evidence was strong for good validity and reliability of the field-based tests. The level of evidence was unknown for validity and low to moderate for good reliability of laboratory-based tests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a paucity of research on the clinimetric properties of measurement instruments to assess aerobic and anaerobic capacity for children with CP. Further clinimetric studies of laboratory-based measures in children with CP at all Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels, and clinimetric studies of field-based measures in children who are classified as GMFCS levels III to V are required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, MOVE Research Institute Amsterdam and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. a.balemans@vumc.nl
authors.forename: Astrid C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Balemans
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fragala-Pinkham
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lennon
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thorpe
authors.forename: Roslyn N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.forename: Margaret E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: O'Neil
authors.forename: Kristie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bjornson
authors.forename: Jules G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Becher
authors.forename: Annet J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Dallmeijer
mesh_terms: D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*