Article

OBJECTIVES: To examine the test-retest reliability of discrete gait parameters in
children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Gross Motor Function Classification System
(GMFCS) levels I, II, and III; to calculate the measurement error between testing
sessions of these parameters in the total sample and within GMFCS subgroups using
the standard error of measurement; and to evaluate the minimal detectable change
(MDC) to identify discrete gait parameters that are most sensitive to change in
children with CP. DESIGN: Test-retest reliability study. SETTING: Rehabilitation
facility with human movement laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Ambulatory children with
CP (N=28). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intraclass
correlation coefficients (ICCs), standard error of measurement, and MDC of
discrete gait parameters. RESULTS: Parameters measured in the sagittal plane and
temporal-spatial parameters were highly reliable across all GMFCS levels (ICC
range, .84-.97), while test-retest reliability in the frontal and transverse
planes varied from poor to excellent (ICC range, .46-.91). Using MDC as a guide,
hip and pelvis parameters in the transverse and frontal planes were least
responsive for GMFCS levels I and III (MDC ranges, 8.3 degrees -18.0 degrees and
2.7 degrees -23.4 degrees , respectively), whereas ankle kinematics were the
least responsive for level II (MDC range, 8.2 degrees -11.9 degrees ).
Reliability was dependent on mobility level, with children in GMFCS level III
exhibiting greater test-retest variability overall. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings
suggest that select discrete gait parameters measured using computerized gait
analysis are reliable and potentially responsive measures of performance and can
be used as outcome measures in intervention studies.

Langue : ANGLAIS