Validity and clinical utility of functional assessments in children with cerebral palsy.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the validity and clinical utility of functional assessments (1-minute walk test, 10-meter walk test, Timed Up & Go [TUG] test, Timed Up and Down Stairs [TUDS] test, sit-to-stand [STS] test, and lateral step-up [LSU] test).


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Four special schools for adolescents with physical disabilities.


METHODS
Adolescents with spastic tetraplegia and diplegia (at levels I-III) were selected through convenience sampling (N=35; mean age, 14.97±2.03y).


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
GMFM-88 (dimensions D and E), 1-minute walk, 10-meter walk, TUG, TUDS, STS, and LSU tests. Data were analyzed using Pearson intercorrelations, multiple regression analysis, and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA).


RESULTS
Significant moderate to high intercorrelations were found. Three significant positive predictors emerged (1-minute walk, 10-meter walk, and LSU) with the following regression equation: YGMFM-88 (dimensions D and E) = 5.708 + .402 × X1-minute walk + .920 × XLSU + .404 × X10-meter walk The MANOVA was significant (Λ=.163, F=14.732, P<.001, η(2)=.596), and post hoc comparisons revealed significant differences across Gross Motor Function Classification System Expanded and Revised levels in all paired comparisons for the 1-minute walk and LSU tests. For the 10-meter walk test, significant differences were evident in the level I versus level III and level II versus level III comparisons. No significant differences were found in the 10-meter walk test between levels I and II.


CONCLUSIONS
These functional assessments (1-minute walk, LSU, and 10-meter walk tests) are simple to administer, quick, low cost, and user-friendly. Although these assessments are not a substitute for the criterion standard (GMFM-88), they may be used for a quick assessment in adolescents with cerebral palsy (levels I-III) either at school or during rehabilitation, especially when time is limited.
Department of Physical Therapy, Technological Educational Institute of Athens, Athens, Greece; Laboratory of Adapted Physical Activity/Developmental and Physical Disabilities, Athens, Greece.
Nikolaos
N
Chrysagis
Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: eskord@phed.uoa.gr.
Emmanouil K
EK
Skordilis
Laboratory of Adapted Physical Activity/Developmental and Physical Disabilities, Athens, Greece; Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Dimitra
D
Koutsouki
D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
CP; Cerebral palsy; GMFCS E&R; GMFM-66; GMFM-88; Gross Motor Function Classification System Expanded and Revised; Gross Motor Function Measure-66; Gross Motor Function Measure-88; LSU; MANOVA; Outcome and process assessment (health care); Rehabilitation; Reproducibility of results; STS; TUDS; TUG; Timed Up & Go; Timed Up and Down Stairs; cerebral palsy; lateral step-up; multivariate analysis of variance; sit-to-stand