Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2026
Calculating Heart Rate Variability from ECG Data from Youth with Cerebral Palsy During Active Video Game Sessions
Published on: June 5, 2019
Reference values for anaerobic performance and agility in ambulatory children and adolescents with cerebral palsy
Olaf Verschuren1, Manon Bloemen, Cas Kruitwagen
1Rehabilitation Center De Hoogstraat, Center of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine Utrecht, Netherlands. o.verschuren@dehoogstraat.nl
Insights
This study establishes height-related reference values for anaerobic performance and agility in children and adolescents with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). These findings offer a clinically relevant tool for interpreting physical capabilities in young individuals with CP.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Sports Medicine
- Neurology
Background:
- Children and adolescents with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) often exhibit altered motor function.
- Establishing normative data for physical performance is crucial for assessing functional status and guiding interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide height-related reference values for anaerobic performance and agility in children and adolescents with spastic CP.
- To develop clinically relevant curves for interpreting physical capabilities in this population.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 300 children (GMFCS levels I and II) with spastic CP from multiple countries.
- Administered the Muscle Power Sprint Test (MPST) and 10x5m sprint test.
- Utilized generalized additive models to create height-related reference curves.
Main Results:
- Developed height-related reference curves based on anaerobic performance and agility test results.
- The reference curves provide normative data specific to children and adolescents with spastic CP.
Conclusions:
- The study successfully generated height-related reference values for anaerobic performance and agility in children and adolescents with spastic CP (GMFCS I-II).
- These reference curves serve as a user-friendly and clinically valuable tool for assessing and interpreting the physical performance of children with spastic CP.
Aim:
the aim of this study was to provide reference values of anaerobic performance and agility in a group of children and adolescents with spastic cerebral palsy (CP).
Method:
a total of 300 children (184 males, 116 females) with spastic CP were recruited from 26 rehabilitation centres in six different countries. Of these, 215 were classified at GMFCS level I (mean age 11y 2mo, SD 3y, range 6-18y) and 85 were classified at GMFCS level II (mean age 11y; SD 3y 1mo, range 6-18y). The children performed the Muscle Power Sprint Test (MPST) and the 10×5m sprint test in a standardized manner. To establish reference values, reference curves were created using generalized additive models for location, scale, and shape.
Results:
height-related reference curves were created based on performance on the two tests.
Interpretation:
this study provides height-related reference values for anaerobic performance and agility for children and adolescents with CP classified at GMFCS levels I and II. These curves are clinically relevant and provide a user-friendly method in the interpretation of anaerobic performance and agility for children with spastic CP.
