Repeatability and comparison of clinical tests in children with spastic diplegia and with typical development,

Objective The aims of this study were to evaluate the reliability of three range of motion tests (Straight Leg Raise, Modified Thomas, and Duncan-Ely) using photographic measurements in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (SD) and with typical development (TD). Methods A cross-sectional test-retest design was applied to compare muscle-tendon unit shortening tests between groups. Results The tests showed reliability that ranged from good to excellent (ICC > 0.8), except for the Thomas Test for the bi-articular hip flexor muscle-tendon unit of the TD group (ICC = 0.7). Differences between groups were found in all tests (p < 0.05), except when the range of motion of the bi-articular hip flexor muscles was assessed using the Thomas test (p > 0.05). Conclusion Children with SD presents a smaller range of motion than the TD group. However, the Thomas Test for the bi-articular hip flexor muscles was unable to determine differences between children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy from that with typical development.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mélo,Tainá Ribas, Rodacki,André Luiz Félix, Guimarães,Ana Tereza Bittencourt, Israel,Vera Lúcia
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná 2015
Online Access:http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-51502015000100013
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!