Electromyographic biofeedback training in a cerebral palsy patient undergoing pronator teres rerouting and brachioradialis to extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon transfer surgery: A case report.

Several surgical procedures are used to treat dynamic pronation position of the forearm and flexion deformity of the wrist in cerebral palsy. Postoperative results of pronator teres rerouting were explored, while specially designed postoperative physiotherapy and its outcomes were limited. Herein, we present a case in whom the outcomes of electromyographic biofeedback (EMG-BF) training were assessed after pronator teres rerouting and brachioradialis tendon to extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon transfer combined with derotation osteotomy. The peak value increased, while the resting value decreased for the muscles after the intervention. Range of motion, hand function, manual ability, functional independence, and quality of life levels were improved. In conclusion, EMG biofeedback training may have a positive effect on neuromuscular control of pronator teres and brachioradialis. Free use of the upper extremity and improved manual ability positively affect the activity and quality of life of the patients.

The processes and outcomes related to 'family-centred care' in neuromotor and functional rehabilitation contexts for children with cerebral palsy: A scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to identify the main processes and outcomes related to family-centred care (FCC) in neuromotor and functional rehabilitation of preschool children with cerebral palsy (CP). BACKGROUND: FCC is considered a reference for best practices in child rehabilitation. CP is the most common cause of physical disability in childhood with repercussions on functionality. There is a gap in knowledge of the practical principles of FCC, and it is necessary to develop a reference model for the practice of child rehabilitation professionals. METHODS: In this scoping review, the main databases selected were as follows: LILACS; Pubmed; Embase; The Cochrane Library; CINAHL (EBSCO); Scopus; Web of Science; PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database); Open Gray and other banks of thesis. The terms combined in the search strategy were as follows: 'Family-centered', 'Family-centred' and 'CP'. Inclusion criteria are as follows: studies on preschool-aged children with CP, undergoing family-centred functional therapeutic interventions (FCFTI) with outcomes on bodily structures and functions and/or activities and/or participation. RESULTS: The main participatory care methods identified were home intervention, environmental enrichment, collaborative realistic goal setting, planning of home-based activities and routine, child assessment feedback, family education/training, family coaching, encouraging discussion, observation of therapist and supervised practice. The main relational care qualities identified were as follows: respect, active listening, treat parents as equals, clear language, respect parents' ability to collaborate, demonstrate genuine care for the family, appreciate parents' knowledge and skills, demonstrate competence, experience and commitment. The main outcomes identified in children were improvement in motor and cognitive function and the child's functional ability. The main parentaloutcomes identified were empowerment, feeling of competence, self-confidence, motivation and engagement. CONCLUSION: The main differences in FCFTI programs refer to the parental education/guidance component and the amount of intervention carried out by parents. It is possible that the elements chosen by the therapist in a FCFTI depend on characteristics of the child and caregivers.

Back geometry and mobility function changes in cerebral palsy children after backward walking training: arandomized controlled trial.

AIM: To compare the effects of backward (BW) and forward (FW) walking training on back geometry and mobility function in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy (CP). METHODS: Fifty-five children with hemiparetic CP participated in this study. They were randomly assigned into two groups. For 12 weeks, both groups got a conventional physical therapy program three days/week. Groups A and B got a specifically developed FW walking training (25 minutes/session) and a specially designed BW walking training (25 minutes/session), respectively. RESULTS: The trunk imbalance, lateral deviation, pelvic tilting, pelvic torsion, surface motion, and dynamic gait index of group B improved significantly more than group A (p < .05). Both groups showed significant improvements in all measured variables (p < .05). CONCLUSION: BW walking training might be considered as an effective therapy modality for improving back geometry and mobility function in hemiparetic CP children compared with FW walking training combined with a typical program.

Utilizing an Environmental Framework to Explore the Acceptability of a Health Promotion Program for Youth with Disabilities.

This study explored the acceptability of Children and Teens in Charge of their Health (CATCH), a program for children with spina bifida or cerebral palsy to enhance their physical activity and diet. Qualitative interviews were conducted with children (n = 6) and their parents (n = 6) who participated in CATCH. Analysis used an environmental systems framework. Microsystem factors impacting acceptability of the program were: Children's motivations for change, their age, and their physical health. Mesosystem factors were: Use of virtual coaching and the relationship between coach and child. Macrosystem factors (e.g. Covid-19), did not impact acceptability, but affected some goal attainment strategies. CATCH was broadly acceptable to children and parents and shows promise as a health promotion program tailored to children with disabilities. An environmental systems framework can potentially help other health promotion programs enhance their acceptability and success.

[Follow-up of cerebral palsy patients in neurological rehabilitation departments]. / Le suivi des patients cérébrolésés en service de rééducation neurologique.

Patients suffering from head trauma or hemorrhagic cardiovascular accident can be cared for in special facilities. Located near Grenoble, the Fondation santé des étudiants de France Grenoble La Tronche (ex-clinique du Grésivaudan) (38) provides post-resuscitation care for brain-damaged patients. This article presents the department, its specific features and their daily routine, as shared with us by Mélanie, Leslie and her fellow nurses in the neurological rehabilitation department.

Motor Effects of Intervention With Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Physiotherapy Treatment in Children With Cerebral Palsy: Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Children diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) often experience various limitations, particularly in gross motor function and activities of daily living. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation technique that has been used to improve movement, gross motor function, and activities of daily living. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the potential additional effects of physiotherapy combined with tDCS in children with CP in comparison with physiotherapy only. METHODS: This is a 2-arm randomized controlled trial that will compare the effects of tDCS as an adjunctive treatment during rehabilitation sessions to rehabilitation without tDCS. Children with CP classified by the Gross Motor Function Classification System as levels I and II will be randomly assigned to either the sham + rehabilitation group or the tDCS + rehabilitation group. The primary outcome will be the motor skills assessed using the Gross Motor Function Measure domain E scores, and the secondary outcome will be the measurement scores of the children's quality of life. The intervention will consist of a 10-day stimulation protocol with tDCS spread over 2 weeks, with stimulation or sham tDCS administered for 20 minutes at a frequency of 1 Hz, in combination with physiotherapy. Physical therapy exercises will be conducted in a circuit based on each child's baseline Gross Motor Function Measure results. The participants' changes will be evaluated and compared in both groups. Intervenient features will be tested. RESULTS: Data collection is ongoing and is expected to be completed by January 2025. A homogeneous sample and clear outcomes may be a highlight of this protocol, which may allow us to understand the potential use of tDCS and for whom it should or should not be used. CONCLUSIONS: A study with good evidence and clear outcomes in children with CP might open an avenue for the potential best use of neurostimulation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials RBR-104h4s4y; https://tinyurl.com/47r3x2e4. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/52922.

"From All, To All": Implementing a collaborative online conference to reflect on the daily living of individuals with cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND: Translating knowledge to improve paediatric rehabilitation has become a research area of interest. This study describes the development and evaluation of an online conference that brought together perspectives of individuals with cerebral palsy (CP), families, health care professionals, and researchers to discuss the daily living of individuals with CP. METHODS: We anchored the development and implementation of the online conference in the action cycle of the Knowledge to Action Framework. To develop the meeting, we included representatives from each stakeholder group in the programme committee. The conference programme was designed having the lifespan perspective of individuals with CP, from birth to adulthood, as its central core, with themes related to daily living (e.g., self-care, mobility, and continuing education). Participants' satisfaction with the conference was assessed using an anonymized online survey sent to all participants. RESULTS: The conference had 1656 attendees, of whom 675 answered the online satisfaction survey. Most participants rated the structure of the conference (i.e., quality of the technical support, audio and video, and online platform) and discussed topics (i.e., relevance, content, discussion, speakers, and available time) positively. CONCLUSION: Collaborative conferences that include stakeholders throughout the planning and implementation are a viable, effective knowledge translation strategy that allows for sharing experiences and disseminating knowledge among families and individuals with CP, health care professionals, and researchers.

Locomotion Efficiency in Children With Cerebral Palsy Experiencing Limited Gross Motor Function: Walking Versus Cycling.

PURPOSE: This study compares cycling and walking efficiency, and energy expenditure in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP). In children with CP, locomotion with body weight support aids such as a tricycle is a potential alternative for less exhausting movements. METHODS: Nine children with CP traveled at comfortable speed for 6 minutes by cycling and walking. The energy expenditure index (EEI) and the percentage of the reserve heart rate (%HRR) were calculated. RESULTS: The EEI was lower while cycling than walking, the traveled distance was higher while cycling than walking, and %HRR remained similar between cycling and walking. CONCLUSION: Cycling appears an efficient alternative to walking for children with CP for adapted school environments and in the community.

Hipoterapia versus simuladores de hipoterapia como opción de tratamiento en niños con parálisis cerebral: revisión sistemática / Hippotherapy versus hippotherapy simulators as a treatment option in children with cerebral palsy: A systematic review

Introducción y objetivo: La hipoterapia (HPOT) y los simuladores de hipoterapia (SHPOT) se utilizan en niños con parálisis cerebral para lograr su máxima funcionalidad e independencia. El objetivo es conocer si la HPOT y los SHPOT producen los mismos efectos beneficiosos sobre el equilibrio, la función motora gruesa y el control postural en menores de 18 años con parálisis cerebral. Materiales y métodos: Se utilizaron como palabras clave: hippotherapy, equine-assisted therapy y cerebral palsy. Las bases de datos utilizadas fueron: PeDro, Scopus, LILACS, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, Web of Science y CINAHL Complete (Ebsco). Fueron incluidos ensayos clínicos aleatorizados que estudiaran el efecto de la HPOT y/o los SHPOT sobre las variables mencionadas. Resultados: Cuatro estudios evaluaron el equilibrio, 4 la función motora gruesa y 2 el control postural. La HPOT y los SHPOT produjeron beneficios en todos ellos. Conclusiones: Ambas intervenciones producen mejoras sobre las variables estudiadas, aunque aumentan con la HPOT posiblemente debido a una mayor estimulación sensorial.(AU)

Introduction and objective: Hippotherapy (HPOT) and hippotherapy simulators (SHPOT) are used in children with cerebral palsy to achieve their maximum functionality and independence. The aim is to find out if HPOT and SHPOT produce the same effects on balance, gross motor function, and postural control in children under 18 years old with cerebral palsy. Materials and methods: The keywords used were: hippotherapy, equine-assisted therapy and cerebral palsy. The databases used were PeDro, Scopus, LILACS, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and CINAHL Complete (Ebsco). Studies were included if they were randomized clinical trials that studied the effect of HPOT and/or SHPOT on the variables mentioned in these patients. Results: Four studies assessed balance, 4 studied gross motor function, and 2 investigated postural control. Both HPOT and SHPOT produced benefits in all of them. Conclusions: According to the studied variables both interventions produce similar improvements. Although, they increase with HPOT possibly due to greater sensory stimulation.(AU)

Immediate effects of a novel hand rehabilitation board on fine motor skills in children with cerebral palsy: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: In children with cerebral palsy (CP), fine motor skills limit forearm supination and active extension of the elbow, wrist, or fingers. Therapeutic interventions focusing on improving the ranges at these joints while facilitating active movements are the key to augmenting fine motor skills. OBJECTIVE: This pilot study examines if children with CP (with UE involvement) exposed to the Novel Hand Rehabilitation (NHR) Board will demonstrate 1) changes in spasticity and passive ROM of forearm and wrist/finger muscles, and 2) improvement in fine motor abilities. METHODS: The forearm and wrist/fingers of children with spastic CP (N = 15; M = 7, F = 8) aged 49-72 months (65.33±6.355 months) were positioned on the NHR board till their tolerance limit or a minimum duration of 30 minutes. The outcome measures, i.e., spasticity (Modified Ashworth Scale), passive range of motion (PROM) of wrist and fingers, and fine motor skills (PDMS-2 - Fine motor scale), were recorded. RESULTS: The spasticity of forearm pronators (0.001) and wrist flexors (0.008) reduced significantly, but not in wrist extensors. Post-intervention improvements in wrist extension (p = 0.005) and ulnar deviation ROM (p = 0.007) were significant. In thumb, changes were non-significant for the CMC flexion, but extension (0.003) and abduction (0.001) as well as MCP extension (0.004) were significant. The post-intervention MCP extension ROM for the 2nd (0.001), 3rd (0.007), and 4th fingers (0.014) were also substantial, but not for PIP and DIP joints. The post-intervention percentage change in the Grasping and Visual-motor integration subtests of PDMS-2 was 11.03% (p = 0.002) and 5.09% (p = 0.001) respectively. CONCLUSION: The immediate effects on fine motor skills in children with CP after the NHR board application were positive and encouraging. Hence, the NHR board can be recommended as an intervention to improve the fine motor abilities of children with CP.

Multiple Equine Therapies for the Treatment of Gross Motor Function in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of three equine therapy approaches on gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy. METHODS: The studies were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, and the Cochrane Library, in accordance with the style commonly found in scientific journal publications:(1) peer-reviewed articles written in English; (2) experimental or quasi-experimental; (3) three Equine Therapy Interventions as experiment's independent variable; (4) children with cerebral palsy; and (5) measurement of outcomes related to Gross Motor Function. RESULTS: The study examined 596 patients with cerebral palsy, whose average age was 8.03 years. The three types of horse therapy interventions had a significant impact on gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy (SMD = 0.19, 95% CI 0.02-0.36, p = 0.031). Additionally, the interventions positively affected dimensions C (SMD = 0.31, 95% CI 0.00-0.62, p = 0.05), D (SMD = 0.30, 95% CI 0.06-0.56, p = 0.017), and B (SMD = 0.72, 95% CI 0.10-1.34, p = 0.023). The Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) consists of 88 or 66 items, which are divided into five functional dimensions: GMFM-A (lying down and rolling), GMFM-B (sitting), GMFM-C (crawling and kneeling), GMFM-D (standing), and GMFM-E (walking, running, and jumping). Each subsection of the GMFM can be used separately to evaluate motor changes in a specific dimension of interest. Subgroup analysis revealed that different horse-assisted therapy approaches, types of cerebral palsy, exercise duration, frequency, and intervention periods are important factors influencing treatment outcomes. CONCLUSION: The intervention period ranged from 8 to 12 weeks, with session durations of 30 to 45 minutes, 2 to 3 times per week. Equine-assisted therapy (EAT) demonstrated significant improvements in the overall gross motor function score, Dimension B, Dimension C, and Dimension D among children with cerebral palsy. The most effective treatment is provided by Equine-Assisted Therapy, followed by Horseback Riding Simulator (HRS). Due to its economic practicality, HRS plays an irreplaceable role. CLINICAL EVIDENCE: Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT) demonstrates the most effective treatment outcomes, suggesting that hospitals and healthcare professionals can form specialized teams to provide rehabilitation guidance. 2. Within equine-assisted therapy, Horseback Riding Simulator (HRS) exhibits treatment efficacy second only to Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT), making it a cost-effective and practical option worthy of promotion and utilization among healthcare institutions and professionals. 3. In equine-assisted therapy, Therapeutic Horseback Riding (THR) holds certain value in rehabilitation due to its engaging and practical nature.

Assessing the Adequacy of the Physical, Social, and Attitudinal Environment to the Specific Needs of Young Adults With Cerebral Palsy: The European Adult Environment Questionnaire.

OBJECTIVES: To present the development of the European Adult Environment Questionnaire (EAEQ), to assess to what extent it covers the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), and to describe the adequacy of the physical, social, and attitudinal environment to the specific needs of young adults with cerebral palsy (CP). DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Administrative regions in France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: Young adults with CP (N=357), with varying severity profiles, aged 19-28 years at time of interview (2018-20). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Physical, social, and attitudinal environment unmet needs. RESULTS: Relevant environmental factors (EFs) for young adults with CP were identified during focus groups in England and Portugal. EFs were mapped to the ICF environmental classification and the EAEQ analytical structure resulted from this linking procedure. It comprised 61 items, linked to 31 ICF environmental classification categories, and covered 4 of its 5 chapters. Content validity assessed with the bandwidth index (percentage coverage of ICF Core Sets for adults with CP) was satisfactory (79.3%). A descriptive analysis was carried out. Participants had a mean age of 24 years, 56% were men, 38% had severely limited mobility. Less than 16% reported unmet needs for EFs relating to home, college/work/day placement, and communication in the Products and technology chapter. Unmet needs were higher (>20%) for the other items in the Public use and Land development categories. Social support, attitudes, and understanding of relatives were often adequate to the participants' needs. The proportion of unmet needs varied by sex (women were more often concerned) and raised with increasing gross motor impairment. CONCLUSION: The EAEQ describes in detail the adequacy of the environment to the specific needs of young adults with CP. Its ICF-based structure opens up possibilities for use in a universal conceptual framework.

Pain and self-pressure relief in adolescents with cerebral palsy.

Adolescents with CP classified as Gross Motor Functional Classification System Level V attend school up to 8 h daily with limited ability to self-reposition. Despite pain reported within this population, perceived pain and self-pressure relief during prolonged classroom sitting is unknown. A case series design was used with a convenience sample of six students (13-18 years) with CP. Pain assessments were taken every 30 min for 5 h. Self-relief assessments using the SensiMATTM were recorded while students were in their wheelchairs. One student self-reported pain and three students proxy reported pain movements. All students had unrelieved pressure or did not self-relieve pressure for at least 1.5 consecutive hours. Four students increased their self-pressure relief movements after 3.5 h. This study provided preliminary data regarding perceived pain and self-pressure relief during prolonged sitting and demonstrated that the SensiMATTM can capture pressure relief movements in sitting of students with severe CP. Although there was no trend of reported pain, students may either be moving enough, as demonstrated by recorded pressure relief movements, to independently relieve pressure and pain, or current pain assessments may not be sensitive enough for those with the most severe disabilities.

Modified-constraint movement induced therapy versus neuro-developmental therapy on reaching capacity in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Upper extremity impairment is one of the complications in hemiplegic children. The purpose of modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) is to improve the function of impaired arms and hands in these children. This study compared the efficacy of mCIMT and the approach of neurodevelopmental therapy (NDT) on reaching capacity in children with spastic hemiplegia. METHODS: Fifty-two spastic hemiplegic children ranging in age from four to 6 years were selected for this study from an outpatient clinic and biomechanical lab (Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, KSA). They were randomly divided into two experimental groups: group I received NDT and group II received mCIMT for the involved upper limb and restriction of the uninvolved arm movements for 12 weeks (three times per week). Both groups received a conventional exercise program in addition to experimental one. Active elbow extension range of motion and three-dimensional motion analysis of the reaching task were measured before and after 3 months of treatment. RESULTS: Significant enhancement in all pre-treatment and post-treatment outcomes was observed in both groups by a two-way mixed MANOVA; furthermore, Group II (mCIMT) showed the most significant improvement (elbow extension, percentage of reach to peak velocity, movement time and movement units) when comparing the post-treatment outcomes between the two groups (p < 0.001). IMPLICATION FOR PHYSIOTHERAPY PRACTICE: Addition of mCIMT to a conventional exercise was superior to adding NDT exercise therapy in promoting the performance of reaching pattern in hemiplegic children.

How did youth with cerebral palsy perceive participation in everyday life after participating in a periodical intensive rehabilitation program based on adapted physical activity in groups? A qualitative interview study.

PURPOSE: Explore how youths with CP experience participation in everyday life, their experience of having participated in a periodical intensive rehabilitation programme and their expectations for the future. MATERIALS & METHODS: A qualitative design that included semi-structured interviews with 14 youths with CP (mean age 17 years). RESULTS: The qualitative content analysis exposed six themes, (1) Everyday life - to get the pieces of your life to fit together, (2) Participation means inclusion and belonging - the meaning of life, (3) Individual and environmental factors influencing participation, (4) Experience of physical and social activities away from home together with like-minded people, (5) To be continued locally, and (6) You do not know the future, anything can happen - visions for the future. CONCLUSIONS: Participation in everyday life increases the meaning of life but takes energy. Periodical intensive rehabilitation programme enabled youths to try new activities, make friends and increase self-insight in their own strengths and limitations.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONYoung people with cerebral palsy (CP) describe participation as the meaning of life and state that it is essential for inclusion and being able to contribute to societyAdaptation of environmental factors including collaboration across service sectors and capacity building in young people within their preferred life situations appear to be essentialA periodical intensive rehabilitation, including adapted physical activities in groups, is recommended to provide peer learning and mastery experiences in young people with CP.Young people with CP seem to have the same hopes for the future as their typically developing peers.

A big data approach to evaluate receipt of optimal care in childhood cerebral palsy.

PURPOSE: Through automated electronic health record (EHR) data extraction and analysis, this project systematically quantified actual care delivery for children with cerebral palsy (CP) and evaluated alignment with current evidence-based recommendations. METHODS: Utilizing EHR data for over 8000 children with CP, we developed an approach to define and quantify receipt of optimal care, and pursued proof-of-concept with two children with unilateral CP, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) Level II. Optimal care was codified as a cluster of four components including physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR) care, spasticity management, physical therapy (PT), and occupational therapy (OT). A Receipt of Care Score (ROCS) quantified the degree of adherence to recommendations and was compared with the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI) and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PEDS QL). RESULTS: The two children (12 year old female, 13 year old male) had nearly identical PMR and spasticity component scores while PT and OT scores were more divergent. Functional outcomes were higher for the child who had higher adjusted ROCS. CONCLUSIONS: ROCSs demonstrate variation in real-world care delivered over time and differentiate between components of care. ROCSs reflect overall function and quality of life. The ROCS methods developed are novel, robust, and scalable and will be tested in a larger sample.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONOptimal practice, with an emphasis on integrated multidisciplinary care, can be defined and quantified utilizing evidence-based recommendations.Receipt of optimal care for childhood cerebral palsy can be scored using existing electronic health record data.Big Data approaches can contribute to the understanding of current care and inform approaches for improved care.

Nutritional Support System (NSS) as a New Therapeutic Strategy for Cerebral Palsy.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is part of a group of nonprogressive motor disorders. The disease affects movement and posture and constitutes the most frequent cause of motor disability in childhood. CP is characterized by spasticity, reflecting lesions in the pyramidal pathway. Treatment is currently focused on physical rehabilitation, and the annual progression of the disease is 2-3%. About 60% of these patients present severe degrees of malnutrition associated with dysphagia, gastrointestinal abnormalities, malabsorption, increased metabolism, and depression. These alterations promote sarcopenia functional dependence and affect the quality of life and delay the evolution of motor skills. Currently, there is evidence that the supplementation of several nutrients, dietary correction, and probiotics can improve neurological response by stimulating neuroplasticity, neuroregeneration, neurogenesis, and myelination. This therapeutic strategy could shorten the response period to treatment and increase both gross and fine motor skills. The interaction of nutrients and functional foods integrating a Nutritional Support System (NSS) has shown greater efficiency in neurological stimulation than when nutrients are supplied separately. The most studied elements in the neurological response are glutamine, arginine, zinc, selenium, cholecalciferol, nicotinic acid, thiamine, pyridoxine, folate, cobalamin, Spirulina, omega-3 fatty acids, ascorbic acid, glycine, tryptophan, and probiotics. The NSS represents a therapeutic alternative that will restore neurological function in patients with spasticity and pyramidal pathway lesions, both characteristics of patients with CP.

Translation, reliability and validity of the Greek version of the Child Engagement in Daily Life in children with cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND: Participation in family, recreational activities and self-care is an integral part of health. It is also a main outcome of rehabilitation services for children and adolescents with disabilities. However, there are currently no available tools in Greek to assess participation in young children. METHODS: The Child Engagement in Daily Life (CEDL) was cross-culturally translated into Greek using forward-backward translation, review by expert committee, pretest application and final review. Parents with children who have been diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) and were 18 months to 5 years old were recruited. Internal consistency was evaluated using the Cronbach alpha and test-retest reliability in 2 weeks using intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman plot for the agreement of each domain score. Measurement error was assessed utilising the standard error of measurement (SEM) and the smallest detectable change (SDC) and interpretability was assessed using the floor and ceiling effects. Validity was evaluated using the 'known groups' method, that is, assessing parents of children with typical development (TD). RESULTS: One hundred and seven children with CP (mean age 43.63 ± 13.5 months), Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I-V and 97 children with TD (mean age 43.63 ± 14.4 months) were included. Significant differences (p < 0.01) between children with CP and children with TD were recorded for all CEDL domains. Mean ± standard deviation of the CEDL domains 'frequency of participation', 'enjoyment of participation' and 'self-care' were 58.8 ± 14.5, 3.9 ± 0.9 and 49.7 ± 23.5, respectively for children with CP and 62.3 ± 9.1, 4.4 ± 0.9 and 74.2 ± 15 for children with TD. Internal consistency of all domains was high; Cronbach alpha for 'frequency of participation' was 0.83, for 'enjoyment of participation' was 0.76 and for 'self-care' was 0.92. Test-retest reliability (ICC) was excellent for the 'self-care' (0.95) and good for 'frequency of participation' and 'enjoyment of participation' domains (0.90 and 0.88, respectively) while Bland-Altman analysis revealed no systematic differences or bias between the two measurements. SEM was 0.8, 0.05 and 1.6 for frequency of participation, enjoyment and self-care with SDC of 2.4, 0.16 and 4.5, respectively. No relevant floor and ceiling effects were observed. CONCLUSION: The Greek CEDL has good reliability, validity and interpretability. It can be used to evaluate participation in Greek young children with CP. Future studies should investigate the validity of this tool in longer periods and its responsiveness to intervention.