Gait analysis for individually tailored interdisciplinary interventions in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial.

AIM: To test the hypothesis that improvements in gait and function following individualized interdisciplinary interventions consisting of physical therapy, orthotics, spasticity management, and orthopaedic surgery using instrumented gait analysis are superior to 'usual care' in children with cerebral palsy (CP). METHOD: This was a prospective, single-blind, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of interventions based on the use of gait analysis. Primary outcome was gait (Gait Deviation Index) and secondary outcomes were walking and patient-reported outcome measures of function, disability, and health-related quality of life. Follow-ups were done at 26 weeks (questionnaires) and at the primary end point of 52 weeks (all outcomes). RESULTS: Sixty participants with CP (39 males, 21 females, mean age 6y 10mo, standard deviation 1y 3mo, range 5y-9y 1mo) in Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I or II, were randomized to interventions with or without gait analysis. No significant or clinically relevant between-group differences in change scores of the primary or secondary outcomes were found. The recommended categories of interventions were dominated by non-surgical interventions and were applied in 36% to 86% of the participants. INTERPRETATION: Interventions using gait analysis were not superior to 'usual care' on gait, walking, or patient-reported outcomes in a sample of relatively young and independently walking children with CP not expected to need surgery. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Gait analysis in children with cerebral palsy in Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I or II recommends interdisciplinary interventions. Compliance to interventions recommended after gait analysis was low. No statistically significant advantages were identified for the intervention group versus the control group.

ANÁLISIS DE MARCHA PARA LA INTERVENCIÓN INTERDISCIPLINARIA ADAPTADA INDIVIDUALMENTE EN NIÑOS CON PARÁLISIS CEREBRAL: ENSAYO CONTROLADO RANDOMIZADO: OBJETIVO: Comprobar la hipótesis que las mejoras en la marcha y la función luego de las intervenciones interdisciplinarias individualizadas de terapia física, ortésis, tratamiento antiespástico, y cirugía ortopédica son superiores que "tratamiento convencional" en parálisis cerebral (PC) utilizando un análisis de marcha instrumentada METODO: Este fue un ensayo randomizado controlado, prospectivo, ciego, con grupo paralelo que investigó la efectividad de intervenciones basada en el uso de análisis de marcha. El resultado primario fue la marcha (Índice de Desviación de la Marcha) y los resultados secundarios fueron el paso y los resultados reportados por los pacientes de función, discapacidad y calidad de vida relacionada a la salud. Los seguimientos se realizaron a las 26 semanas (cuestionarios) y el punto de fin primario de 52 semanas (todos los resultados). RESULTADOS: Sesenta participantes con PC (39 masculinos, 21 femeninos, edad media de 6 años 10 meses, desviación estándar de 1 años y 3 meses, rango 5 años 0 meses- 9 años y 1 mes) con niveles de GMFCS I o II, fueron asignados al azar intervenciones con y sin análisis de marcha. No se encontraron diferencias significativas o clínicamente relevantes entre los grupos en cuanto a los cambios de los resultados primarios y secundarios. INTERPRETACION: Las intervenciones que usaron análisis de marcha no fueron superiores al tratamiento convencional sobre el paso, la marcha o resultados reportados por los pacientes en una muestra de niños con PC relativamente jóvenes y de marcha independiente que no se espera que necesiten cirugía.

ANÁLISE DE MARCHA PARA INTERVENÇÕES INDIVIDUALMENTE PLANEJADAS EM CRIANÇAS COM PARALISIA CEREBRAL: UM ENSAIO CONTROLADO RANDOMIZADO: OBJETIVO: Testar a hipótese de que melhoras na marcha e função após intervenções interdisciplinares individualizadas consistindo de fisioterapia, órteses, manejo da espasticidade, e cirurgia ortopédica usando análise de marcha instrumentalizada são superiors comparadas ao "cuidado usual" em crianças com paralisia cerebral (PC). MÉTODO: Este foi um estudo randomizado controlado prospectivo, único cego, com grupos paralelos, investigando a efetividade de intervenções baseadas no uso da análise de marcha. O desfecho primário foi a marcha (Índice de Desvio da Marcha) e os desfechos secundários foram o caminhar e medidas relatadas pelo paciente da função, incapacidade, e qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde. Acompanhamentos foram feitos com 26 semanas (questionários) e o encerramento primário foi 52 semanas (todos os resultados). RESULTADOS: Sessenta participantes com PC (39 do sexo masculino, 21 do sexo feminino, média de idade 6a 10 m, desvio padrão 1a 3 m, variação 5a 0 m- 9a 1 m) nos níveis do Sistema de Classificação da Função Motora Grossa (GMFCS) I ou II foram fandomizados para intervenções com ou sem análise de marcha. Nenhuma diferença significativa ou clinicamente relevante entre grupos nos escores de mudança dos desfechos primários e secundários foram encontradas. As categorias de intervenção recomendadas foram dominadas pelas intervenções não-cirúrgicas e foram aplicadas em 36% a 86% dos participantes. INTERPRETAÇÃO: Intervenções usando análise de marcha não foram superiores ao "cuidado usual" para a marcha, o caminhar, ou resultados reportados por pacientes em ma amostra de crianças com PC relativamente jovens e com deambulação indepente, para a qual não se espera a necessidade de cirurgia.

Threshold values of ankle dorsiflexion and gross motor function in 60 children with cerebral palsy.

Background and purpose - Threshold values defining 3 categories of passive range of motion are used in the Cerebral Palsy follow-Up Program to guide clinical decisions. The aim of this study was to investigate the threshold values by testing the hypothesis that passive range of motion in ankle dorsiflexion is associated with gross motor function and that function differs between the groups of participants in each category. Patients and methods - We analyzed data from 60 ambulatory children (aged 5-9 years) with spastic cerebral palsy. Outcomes were passive range of motion in ankle dorsiflexion with flexed and extended knee and gross motor function (Gait Deviation Index, Gait Variable Score of the ankle, peak dorsiflexion during gait, 1-minute walk, Gross Motor Function Measure, the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Cerebral Palsy Module, and Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument). Results - Significant (p < 0.05) and moderate correlations were documented for range of motion versus Gait Variable Score of the ankle (r = -0.37 and r = -0.37) and range of motion versus peak dorsiflexion (r = 0.49 and r = 0.55). Differences between the groups formed by the categories were shown for Gait Variable Score of the ankle and peak dorsiflexion (p < 0.05). No other significant correlations or differences between the categories were observed. Interpretation - The results suggest that threshold values for ankle dorsiflexion used in the Cerebral Palsy follow-Up Program are of limited clinical value in assessing overall gross motor function, but may be used to identify deviations in ankle-specific gait function.

Subjective measurement of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: a scoping review.

PURPOSE: Physical activity is essential for maintaining overall health. Cost-effective and easily administered outcome instruments are valuable for clinical practice and large-scale population studies. The scoping review aimed to identify and map subjective instruments developed or validated to measure habitual physical activity and/or sedentary behaviour in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy aged 0-18 years across all levels of the GMFCS-E&R. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the JBI methodology for scoping reviews and searched the databases PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, Embase and Pedro to identify articles. RESULTS: From 288 full-text references, 13 studies met the inclusion criteria. Nine instruments measured habitual physical activity and/or sedentary behaviour in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy aged 18 months to 18 years. Six subjective instruments were tested for ambulatory children, while three instruments were tested in children and adolescents at GMFCS-E&R level I-V. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Reporting of the psychometric properties were found on reliability in three instruments, while data on validity were reported in all instruments. Further studies assessing the psychometric properties of subjective instruments in the target population are needed.

Subjective instruments allow for monitoring of physical activity levels in children with cerebral palsy (CP).Personal perceptions of physical activity and/or sedentary behaviour can be assessed using subjective instruments.Caution should be exercised when using subjective instruments to measure physical activity and/or sedentary behaviour, as knowledge about their validity and reliability is limited.

Measurement of physical activity in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: a scoping review protocol.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this scoping review is to identify and map subjective instruments that have been developed for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy from birth to 18 years to measure physical activity and sedentary behavior. INTRODUCTION: Children and adolescents with cerebral palsy often do not meet the recommended levels of physical activity, even though regular physical activity is an important determinant of good health. Considering the importance of physical activity, there is a need for systematic collection of data on daily activity and sedentary behavior of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. Subjective instruments with clinical utility for use in quality registers are needed to evaluate interventions and investigate the relationship between activity and health outcomes. INCLUSION CRITERIA: This review will consider studies that include children and adolescents from birth to 18 years with cerebral palsy across levels I to V of the Gross Motor Function Classification System. Specifically, this scoping review will report on subjective instruments used to measure physical activity and sedentary behavior and that distinguish between physical activity performance and physical activity capability. METHODS: This scoping review will be conducted in accordance with the JBI methodology for scoping reviews and will search the following databases: MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, JBI Evidence Synthesis, Embase, and PEDro, as well as specific journals relating to physical activity assessment.