title: Correlation between Pediatric Balance Scale and Functional Test in Children with Cerebral Palsy.
abstract: [Purpose] To investigate the correlation of functional balance with the functional performance of children with cerebral palsy. [Subjects and Methods] This was a cross-sectional study of children with cerebral palsy with mild to moderate impairment. The children were divided into 3 groups based on motor impairment. The evaluation consisted of the administration of the Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) and the Pediatric Evaluation Disability Inventory. Correlations between the instruments were determined by calculating Pearson's correlation coefficients. [Results] In Group 1, a strong positive correlation was found between the PBS and the mobility dimension of the Pediatric Evaluation Disability Inventory (r=0.82), and a moderate correlation was found between the PBS and self-care dimension of the Pediatric Evaluation Disability Inventory (r=0.51). In Group 2, moderate correlations were found between the PBS and both the self-care dimension (r=0.57) and mobility dimension (r=0.41) of the Pediatric Evaluation Disability Inventory. In Group 3, the PBS was weakly correlated with the self-care dimension (r=0.11) and moderately correlated with the mobility dimension (r=0.55). [Conclusion] The PBS proved to be a good auxiliary tool for the evaluation of functional performance with regard to mobility, but cannot be considered a predictor of function in children with cerebral palsy.
authors.affiliation: Master Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho, Brasil.
authors.forename: Natália de A C
authors.initials: Nde A
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: Doctoral Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho, Brasil.
authors.forename: Luanda André Collange
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Grecco
authors.affiliation: Doctoral Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho, Brasil.
authors.forename: Renata Calhes
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.affiliation: Center of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Brasil.
authors.forename: Nelci
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zanon
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho, Brasil.
authors.forename: Cláudia Santos
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Oliveira
keywords: Cerebral palsy; Children; Postural balance