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Normative Values of Physical Examinations Commonly Used for Cerebral Palsy
Seung Jun Moon1, Young Choi2, Chin Youb Chung1
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
Insights
This study established normative values for physical exams in cerebral palsy (CP) patients aged 13+. Most tests showed no age-related changes, except for the Staheli test.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) evaluation relies on physical examinations.
- Establishing age-specific normative values is crucial for accurate CP assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish normative values for physical examinations used in CP evaluation.
- To identify age-related changes in these physical examination measures.
Main Methods:
- 104 healthy volunteers aged 13+ were divided into four age groups.
- 18 physical examination tests for CP were selected by orthopedic surgeons.
- Measurements were taken by three orthopedic surgeons.
Main Results:
- No significant age-related differences were found in most physical examination measures.
- The Staheli test showed significant differences (p=0.002) between age groups.
- Hip extension was higher in the youngest group (13-20 years); popliteal angle tended to increase in older adults.
Conclusions:
- Normative values for physical examinations in CP patients (13+) were established.
- Most physical examination measures are not significantly affected by age in healthy individuals.
- These normative values can aid in the evaluation of CP.
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to establish normative values and to identify age-related change in physical examinations that are commonly used while evaluating patients with cerebral palsy (CP).
Materials And Methods:
One hundred four healthy volunteers (mean age 36 years, standard deviation 15 years) were enrolled and divided into four age groups: 13-20, 21-35, 36-50, and 51 years and older. The eighteen physical examination tests for CP were selected by five orthopedic surgeons in consensus-building session. The measurements were taken by three orthopedic surgeons.
Results:
There was no significant difference in the measures of physical examination among all the age groups, except for the Staheli test (p=0.002). The post hoc test revealed that the mean hip extension was 2.7° higher in the 13-20-year-old group than in the other age groups. The bilateral popliteal angle had a tendency to increase in those over 36-years-old. There were 31 participants (30%) with a unilateral popliteal angle greater than 40°.
Conclusion:
We documented normative values that can be widely used for evaluating CP in patients 13 years and older.
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