title: The clinimetric properties of aerobic and anaerobic fitness measures in adults with cerebral palsy: A systematic review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the clinimetric properties of maximal aerobic and anaerobic fitness measurement protocols in adults with cerebral palsy (CP).
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic search through March 2015 of databases PubMed, Embase, SPORTDiscus and PsycINFO was performed with medical subject heading terms for 'cerebral palsy' combined with search terms adults or adolescents and multiple text words for fitness and exercise tests that yielded 864 articles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Abstracts were screened by two reviewers to identify use of maximal fitness measurements in adolescents (14-18yrs) or adults (>18yrs) with CP of all abilities. Ninety-four articles were reviewed. No studies of adolescent (14-18yrs) qualified. Eight articles reported clinimetric properties for adults with CP who walk or propel a wheelchair independently. Five articles reported on aerobic capacity, one reported on anaerobic capacity and two reported on both.
  
  
  METHODS
  Methodological quality of the studies was rated using portions of the COSMIN (COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments) checklist. Quality of the measurement protocols was evaluated based on statistical strength of the clinimetrics. Synthesis of the overall evidence was based on the Cochrane review group guidelines which combine methodological quality and statistical strength.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight articles reported on 4 aerobic and 1 anaerobic protocols. Overall synthesis revealed that for ambulatory adults with CP there is (i) moderate evidence for good reliability and good construct validity of maximal aerobic and anaerobic cycle tests, (ii) moderate evidence for good criterion validity of sub-maximal aerobic cycle tests, and (iii) strong evidence for poor criterion validity of the six-minute walk test as a maximal aerobic test. And for adults who propel a wheelchair there is limited evidence of good reliability for maximal aerobic wheelchair ergometer tests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Limited quality research exists on the clinimetric properties of aerobic and anaerobic capacity measures for adults with CP who have independent mobility. Quality aerobic and anaerobic measures for adults with more severe mobility impairments are absent.
authors: Nemours Biomedical Research, The duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA. Electronic address: nlennon@nemours.org.
authors: Nancy
authors: N
authors: Lennon
authors: Division of Physical Therapy, Center for Human Movement Science, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Thorpe
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, MOVE Research Institute Amsterdam, EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Astrid C
authors: AC
authors: Balemans
authors: Franciscan's Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Fragala-Pinkham
authors: Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors: Margaret
authors: M
authors: O'Neil
authors: Pediatrics/Genetics and Developmental Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors: Kristie
authors: K
authors: Bjornson
authors: Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, University of Queensland, Queensland, QLD, Australia.
authors: Roslyn
authors: R
authors: Boyd
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, MOVE Research Institute Amsterdam, EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Annet J
authors: AJ
authors: Dallmeijer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Exercise test; Reliability and validity