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Validity of a 1 minute walk test for children with cerebral palsy
Brona C McDowell1, Claire Kerr, Jackie Parkes
1Gait Analysis Laboratory, Musgrave Park Hospital, Belfast, UK. brona.mcdowell@greenpark.n-i.nhs.uk
Insights
The 1 minute walk test is a valid tool for assessing functional ability in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (BSCP). This cost-effective test correlates well with gross motor function and is useful in clinical settings.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Neurology
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) affects motor function in children.
- Assessing functional ability in ambulatory children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (BSCP) is crucial for intervention.
- The 1 minute walk test (1MWT) is a potential tool for evaluating functional mobility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the concurrent validity of the 1MWT in children with BSCP.
- To compare 1MWT performance with gross motor function as measured by the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM).
Main Methods:
- The study included 34 children with BSCP (mean age 11 years).
- Participants underwent a 1-minute walk test at maximum speed.
- Gross motor function was assessed using the GMFM and categorized by Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels.
Main Results:
- A strong significant correlation was found between GMFM scores and 1MWT distance (r=0.92; p<0.001).
- Distance walked significantly decreased with higher GMFCS levels (p<0.001).
Conclusions:
- The 1MWT is a valid measure for assessing functional ability in ambulatory children with BSCP.
- Its cost-effectiveness and ease of use make it suitable for clinical practice.
- Further research should investigate reliability and ability to detect changes over time.
Abstract:
The concurrent validity of a 1 minute walk test at a child's maximum walking speed was assessed in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (BSCP). The distance covered during the 1 minute walk test was compared with the children's gross motor function as assessed by the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM). Twenty-four male and 10 female children with CP (mean age 11y, range 4 to 16y) participated in the study. Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels were; level I (n=3), level II (n=17), level III (n=10), and level IV (n=4). Participants had clinical diagnoses of symmetrical diplegia (n=19), asymmetrical diplegia (n=14), and quadriplegia (n=1). Results showed a significant correlation between GMFM score and the distance covered during the 1 minute walk (r=0.92; p<0.001). There was also a significant decrease in the distance walked with increasing GMFCS level (p<0.001). We concluded that the 1 minute walk test is a valid measure for assessing functional ability in children with ambulatory BSCP. Its cost-effectiveness and user friendliness make it a potentially useful tool in the clinical setting. Further study needs to address its reliability and ability to detect change over time.
