title: Assessment of Sitting in Children with Cerebral Palsy from Videofilm.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability of two dependent measures, (1) counting of pathologic movements (CPM) and (2) the Sitting Assessments Scale (SAS). The measures were intended for use in clinical physiotherapy practice, to provide both quantifiable and qualitative information from videofilm concerning functional sitting in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Two separate groups of final term physiotherapy students (three students in each group) tested one technique each for interrater reliability. The SAS-measure also was tested for interrater reliability. Videofilm of twelve children with CP ranging in age from 2 to 16 years were assessed. The students' results were compared to earlier results by experiences physiotherapist. The results demonstrated excellent interrater reliability for SAS (p<0.001) and good interrater reliability for the CPM technique. The degree of user experience seems to play a role in the use of the CPM measure. Considering evaluation of postural control and functional performance over all, SAS appears to be superior to CPM.
authors.affiliation: a Lecturer at Bordon College of Health and Caring Sciences, Boden, and doctoral student, Department of Handicap Research, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ulla
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Myhr
authors.affiliation: b Regional Pediatric Rehabilitation Centre.
authors.forename: Lennart
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: von Wendt
authors.affiliation: c Bordon College.
authors.forename: Karl W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Sandberg