Associations between impairments and activity limitations components of the international classification of functioning and the gross motor function and subtypes of children with cerebral palsy.
Maysoun Saleh, Nihad A Almasri, Somaya H Malkawi and 1 others
PMID 31036999WHAT IT FOUND
Children with more limited gross motor function had more impairments and greater difficulty with transfers and mobility.
Spastic quadriplegia and GMFCS level V were linked, while hemiplegia and lower levels walked more independently.
Key findings
01Among the 70 children studied, GMFCS level V was mostly spastic quadriplegia (88.2%).
02More limited gross motor function was linked with more impairments, including scissoring at rest, inability to bear weight on both feet, and scoliosis.
03Children in level V were the most limited in transfer activities, and in the 58 children with mobility data, 13 of 17 did not move around at home, 14 did not move around at school, and 15 did not move around at 500 meters.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study used hospital-based registry participants, so children who only receive services through school or community settings may not be represented. Most children were in levels IV and V, so the findings may overstate how limited the broader CP population is and underrepresent children with better mobility. The sample was mostly children, with limited young adult representation, so results may not apply to older adolescents or adults. Mobility measures were available for 58 children, not all 70, so mobility findings are based on a smaller group. The study describes associations, not the effects of treatment.
Declared interests
The registry database was established with national funding from the Scientific Research Support Fund. The authors reported no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these findings as evidence that a treatment improved mobility. The study only compared groups by CP subtype and GMFCS level.