The Seated Postural & Reaching Control Test in Cerebral Palsy: A Validation Study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Rehabilitation
• Neuromotor Assessment
• Cerebral Palsy Research

Background:

• Children with moderate-severe cerebral palsy (CP) experience significant deficits in postural control, impacting daily activities like reaching.
• Existing clinical measures may not adequately capture the nuances of postural imbalance and associated reaching limitations in this population.
• Objective and reliable assessment tools are crucial for effective intervention planning in pediatric CP.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and validate the Seated Postural and Reaching Control test (SP&R-co) as a clinical measure.
• To objectively identify dimensions of postural imbalance and reaching limitations in children with CP.
• To provide therapists with a reliable tool for assessing seated postural control and reaching.

Main Methods:

• The SP&R-co documentation was developed for test validity and rater training.
• Internal consistency and rater reliability (inter-rater and intra-rater) were assessed using Cronbach's alpha and Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC).
• Construct and concurrent validity were evaluated using motor classification systems and performance tests.

Main Results:

• The SP&R-co demonstrated acceptable-to-good internal consistency (α = 0.76-0.84) and excellent item interrelatedness (α = 0.82-0.97).
• Rater reliability was fair to excellent for item-by-item assessment (ICC = 0.41-0.92), and good-to-excellent for overall dimensions (Inter-rater ICC = 0.68-0.86; Intra-rater ICC = 0.64-0.95).
• Construct and concurrent validity showed moderate-to-excellent correlations (r = 0.49-0.88).

Conclusions:

• The SP&R-co is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing seated postural and reaching control in children with CP.
• The test provides objective quantification of functional limitations, aiding therapists in clinical decision-making.
• This tool supports the development of targeted interventions for improving motor function in pediatric CP.