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Reliability and validity of data for 2 newly developed shuttle run tests in children with cerebral palsy
Olaf Verschuren1, Tim Takken, Marjolijn Ketelaar
1Centre of Excellence, Rehabilitation Centre De Hoogstraat, Rembrandtkade 10, 3583 TM Utrecht, the Netherlands. o.verschuren@dehoogstraat.nl
Insights
Two new 10-meter shuttle run tests (SRT-I and SRT-II) reliably and validly measure aerobic power in children with cerebral palsy (CP) (GMFCS levels I-II), offering advantages over treadmill tests.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Exercise Science
- Clinical Biomechanics
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Children with cerebral palsy (CP) often have impaired aerobic capacity.
- Accurate measurement of aerobic power is crucial for targeted interventions.
- Existing tests may not be suitable for all children with CP based on functional classification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the reliability and validity of two novel 10-meter shuttle run tests (SRT-I and SRT-II).
- To assess aerobic power in children with CP classified at Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I and II.
- To compare the performance of the shuttle run tests against a GMFCS level-based treadmill test.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-five children and adolescents with CP (GMFCS levels I-II) participated.
- Test-retest reliability was assessed by repeating the shuttle run tests within two weeks.
- Validity was examined by comparing shuttle run test results with peak oxygen uptake measured during a GMFCS level-based treadmill test.
Main Results:
- Both SRT-I and SRT-II demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability for exercise time (ICC = .97–.99) and peak heart rate (ICC = .87–.94).
- High correlations (r = .96) were observed between the shuttle run tests and the criterion treadmill test.
- The shuttle run tests proved to be reliable and valid measures of aerobic power.
Conclusions:
- The 10-meter shuttle run tests (SRT-I and SRT-II) are reliable and valid tools for assessing aerobic power in children with CP (GMFCS levels I-II).
- These shuttle run tests offer practical advantages over treadmill testing for ambulatory children with CP.
- The findings support the use of these tests in clinical and research settings for this population.
Background And Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of data obtained with 2 newly developed shuttle run tests (SRT-I and SRT-II) to measure aerobic power in children with cerebral palsy (CP) who were classified at level I or II on the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). The SRT-I was developed for children at GMFCS level I, and the SRT-II was developed for children at GMFCS level II.
Subjects:
Twenty-five children and adolescents with CP (10 female, 15 male; mean age = 11.9 years, SD = 2.9), classified at GMFCS level I (n = 14) or level II (n = 11), participated in the study.
Methods:
To assess test-retest reliability of data for the 10-m shuttle run tests, the subjects performed the same test within 2 weeks. To examine validity, the shuttle run tests were compared with a GMFCS level-based treadmill test designed to measure peak oxygen uptake.
Results:
Statistical analyses revealed test-retest reliability for exercise time (number of levels completed) (intraclass correlation coefficients of .97 for the SRT-I and .99 for the SRT-II) and reliability for peak heart rate attained during the final level (intraclass correlation coefficients of .87 for the SRT-I and .94 for the SRT-II). High correlations were found for the relationship between data for both shuttle run tests and data for the treadmill test (r = .96 for both).
Discussion And Conclusion:
The results suggest that both 10-m shuttle run tests yield reliable and valid data. Moreover, the shuttle run tests have advantages over a treadmill test for children with CP who are able to walk and run (GMFCS level I or II).
