Article

The aim of this study was to determine the reliability, validity, and
optimal placement of pedometers in children with cerebral palsy (CP) who ambulate
without aids. METHOD: Seventeen participants aged 7 to 17 years with CP (eight
males, nine females; mean age 12y 4mo; SD 3y 2mo), who could ambulate without
aids, wore four New Lifestyles pedometers (NL-1000) on an elasticized waist belt.
Fourteen participants had hemiplegia, two diplegia, and one triplegia; all were
classified in Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level I (n=8) or
II (n=9). Participants completed 3-minute walking and running trials around an
indoor course and were videotaped to verify the actual number of steps taken
during each trial. Inter-pedometer reliability was determined by comparing
pedometer readings using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Validity was
determined by comparing pedometer step counts with video step counts using ICC,
t-tests, and Bland-Altman plots. Optimal pedometer placement was determined using
Wilcoxon signed-rank tests to compare the percentage error for pedometers
positioned on the dominant and non-dominant hips. RESULTS: Excellent reliability
(ICC 0.88-0.99) and validity
(ICC 0.78-0.95) were demonstrated with no
significant difference between the video step counts and pedometer step counts.
There was no significant difference between the step counts recorded by
pedometers on the dominant and non-dominant hips. INTERPRETATION: This study
showed that NL-1000 pedometers have a high degree of reliability and validity in
ambulant children with CP in controlled conditions.
CI - (c) 2013 Mac Keith Press.

Langue : ANGLAIS