Longitudinal Association Between Gross Motor Capacity and Neuromusculoskeletal Function in Children and Youth With Cerebral Palsy

Vos, R.C.; Becher, J.G.; Voorman, J.M.; Goiter, J.W.; Eck, M. van; Meeteren, J. van; ... ; PERRIN Study Grp (2016)

Article / Letter to editor

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.

• AdolescentCerebral Palsy Child Child, Preschool Disability Evaluation Female Hip Humans Knee Longitudinal Studies Male Motor Skills Muscle Spasticity Muscle Strength Netherlands Physical Therapy Modalities Prospective Studies Range of Motion, Articular Severity of Illness Index Young Adult Adolescent Cerebral palsy Child Motor disorders Rehabilitation

• All authors: Vos, R.C.; Becher, J.G.; Voorman, J.M.; Goiter, J.W.; Eck, M. van; Meeteren, J. van; Smits, D.W.; Twisk, J.W.; DaMeijer, A.J.; PERRIN Study Grp
• Date: 2016
• Journal: Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Arch Phys Med Rehabil
• Volume: 97
• Issue: 8
• Pages: 1329 - 37
• DOI: doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2016.03.012
• Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27085848