title: Longitudinal Association Between Gross Motor Capacity and Neuromusculoskeletal Function in Children and Youth With Cerebral Palsy.
abstract: To examine associations over longitudinal measurements between neuromusculoskeletal function and gross motor capacity in children and youth with cerebral palsy (CP).
  
  
  
  A prospective cohort study.
  
  
  
  Rehabilitation departments of university medical centers and rehabilitations centers.
  
  
  
  A sample (N=327) consisting of 148 children (aged 5-9y) and 179 youth (aged 11-20y) with CP, Gross Motor Function Classification System level I (n=180), level II (n=44), level III (n=36), level IV (n=34), and level V (n=33).
  
  
  
  Not applicable.
  
  
  
  Gross motor capacity was assessed with the Gross Motor Function Measure-66 over a period of 2 to 4 years in different age cohorts. Neuromusculoskeletal function included selective motor control (SMC), muscle strength, spasticity, and range of motion (ROM) of the lower extremities.
  
  
  
  Multilevel analyses showed that SMC was significantly associated with gross motor capacity in children and youth with CP, showing higher values and a more favorable course of gross motor capacity in those with better SMC. Strength was only associated with gross motor capacity in youth. Reduced ROM of hip (children) and knee extension (youth) and spasticity of the hip adductors (youth) were additionally-but more weakly-associated with lower values and a less favorable course of gross motor capacity.
  
  
  
  Results indicate that children and youth with more severely impaired SMC and youth with reduced muscle strength have a less favorable course of gross motor capacity, while spasticity and reduced ROM are less determinative.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rimke C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Vos
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jules G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Becher
authors.affiliation: Merem Rehabilitation Center De Trappenberg, Huizen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jeanine M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Voorman
authors.affiliation: CanChild Center for Childhood Disability Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada; Partner of NetChild, Network for Childhood Disability Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jan Willem
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Gorter
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Mirjam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Eck
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jetty
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Meeteren
authors.affiliation: Partner of NetChild, Network for Childhood Disability Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Center of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht and Rehabilitation Center De Hoogstraat, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Dirk-Wouter
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Smits
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Methodology, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jos W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Twisk
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: a.dallmeijer@vumc.nl.
authors.forename: Annet J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Dallmeijer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006615:Hip / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000503:physiopathology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000503:physiopathology; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D009426:Netherlands; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescent; Cerebral palsy; Child; Motor disorders; Rehabilitation