title: The relevance of nerve mobility on function and activity in children with Cerebral Palsy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In children with cerebral palsy (CP), stiffness, caused by contractile and non-contractile structures, can influence motor performance. This study sought to determine whether the nerve mobility had a relevant impact on motor performance in children with CP. We hypothesized that a positive Straight Leg Raise (SLR) test, as well as smaller SLR hip angle, would relate to lower leg muscle strength, reduced motor capacity and less motor performance in children with CP.
  
  
  METHODS
  We applied a cross-sectional analysis on data including SLR, leg muscle strength, Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66) and number of activity counts during daily life from thirty children with CP (6-18 years). We performed receiver operating characteristics and correlation analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Positive SLR test could distinguish well between children with low versus high muscle strength and GMFM-66 scores. The SLR hip angle correlated significant with the level of disability and with muscle strength. The correlation with the GMFM-66 and the activity counts was fair.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that neural restriction of SLR is higher on functional and activity outcome than the measured SLR hip range of motion. Further studies should investigate weather improving nerve mobility can lead to an amelioration of function in children with CP.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Rehab Research Group, Rehabilitation Centre for Children and Adolescents, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Mühlebergstrasse 104, CH-8910, Affoltern am Albis, Switzerland. petra.marsico@kispi.uzh.ch.|Children's Research Centre (CRC), University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiessstrasse 75, CH-8032, Zürich, Switzerland. petra.marsico@kispi.uzh.ch.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2503-9142
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marsico
authors.affiliation: Bern University of Applied Sciences, Health, Murtenstrasse 10, CH-3008, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tal-Akabi
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Rehab Research Group, Rehabilitation Centre for Children and Adolescents, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Mühlebergstrasse 104, CH-8910, Affoltern am Albis, Switzerland.|Children's Research Centre (CRC), University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiessstrasse 75, CH-8032, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Hubertus J A
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: van Hedel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000294:innervation* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular
keywords: Gross motor function; Movement limitations; Muscle strength; Neural tissue; Neurodynamic; Neuromobilization; Participation; Range of Movement