Physical Therapy Publications
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-2-2019
Journal
Physical Therapy
Volume
99
Issue
3
First Page
329
Last Page
338
URL with Digital Object Identifier
https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzy160
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Children with cerebral palsy (CP) frequently present with secondary impairments in spinal alignment and extremity range of motion, endurance for activity, and muscle strength. Creation of developmental trajectories for these impairments will help guide clinical decision-making.
OBJECTIVE: For children in each level of the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) this study aimed to: (1) create longitudinal developmental trajectories for range of motion (Spinal Alignment and Range of Motion Measures [SAROMM]), endurance (Early Activity Scale for Endurance [EASE]), and functional strength (Functional Strength Assessment [FSA]); and (2) develop age-specific reference percentiles and amount of change typical over 1 year for these outcomes.
DESIGN: This study used a longitudinal cohort design.
METHODS: Participants comprised 708 children with CP across GMFCS levels, aged 18 months up to the 12th birthday, and their families. In 2 to 5 assessments every 6 months over 2 years, trained therapists performed the SAROMM and FSA, and parents completed the EASE questionnaire. For children in each GMFCS level, longitudinal trajectories using linear and nonlinear mixed-effects models from all visits, and reference percentiles using quantile regression from the first, 12-month, and 24-month visits were created for each measure.
RESULTS: Longitudinal trajectories and percentile graphs for SAROMM, FSA, and EASE were primarily linear, with different performance scores among GMFCS levels. There was much variability in both longitudinal trajectories and percentiles within GMFCS levels.
LIMITATIONS: Limitations included a convenience sample and varying numbers of participants assessed at each visit.
CONCLUSIONS: The longitudinal trajectories and percentile graphs have application for monitoring how children with CP are performing and changing over time compared with other children with CP. The resources presented allow therapists and families to collaboratively make decisions about intervention activities targeted to children's unique needs.
Notes
"This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Physical Therapy following peer review. The version of record Jeffries LM, Fiss AL, McCoy SW, Bartlett D, Avery L, Hanna S (2019). Developmental trajectories and reference percentiles for range of motion, endurance, and muscle strength of children with cerebral palsy, 99(3), 329-338 is available online at: https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article/99/3/329/5270741".
The On Track Study was funded by: The Canadian Institutes of Health Research, MOP-119276 and The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, CE-12-11-5321.