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Objective test of the quality of motor function of children with cerebral palsy: preliminary study
D Reddihough1, T Bach, G Burgess
1Department of Child Development and Rehabilitation, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Insights
Tri-axial accelerometry offers a promising objective measure for assessing motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP), showing high reliability and ability to distinguish between disabled and able-bodied children.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Pediatric Neurology
- Rehabilitation Science
Background:
- Objective assessment of motor function is crucial for evaluating cerebral palsy (CP) treatment efficacy.
- Current methods for evaluating motor function in children with CP may lack objectivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the utility of tri-axial accelerometry as an objective measure of motor function in children with cerebral palsy.
- To assess the ability of tri-axial accelerometry to differentiate between children with and without CP.
- To evaluate the retest reliability of tri-axial accelerometry for motor function assessment.
Main Methods:
- Tri-axial accelerometry was employed to collect motor function data.
- The study included 36 children diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
- A control group of 53 typically developing children was also included for comparison.
Main Results:
- Accelerometry-derived variables effectively distinguished between children with cerebral palsy and able-bodied children.
- The tri-axial accelerometry technique demonstrated a high level of retest reliability.
- Objective data on motor function quality was successfully gathered.
Conclusions:
- Tri-axial accelerometry shows potential as a reliable and objective tool for assessing motor function in children with cerebral palsy.
- Further refinement of the technique could enhance its application in clinical settings and treatment program evaluation.
- This objective method promises to improve the evaluation of interventions for pediatric motor disorders.
Abstract:
An objective test of motor function would enable better evaluation of various treatment programmes for children with cerebral palsy. The use of tri-axial accelerometry was investigated in 36 children with cerebral palsy and in 53 children without disabilities. Variables discriminated well between able-bodied and disabled children, and there was a high level of retest reliability. The technique requires further development, but shows promise of providing the ability to gather objective data about the quality of motor function.