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Motor Development in Children with Cerebral Palsy in Sweden-A Population-Based Longitudinal Register Study

Cecilia Lidbeck1,2, Henrike Häbel3, Caroline Martinsson4

  • 1Division of Paediatric Neurology, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.

Children (Basel, Switzerland)
|December 23, 2023
PubMed

Insights

This study tracked motor development in children with cerebral palsy (CP) across Sweden. It confirmed five distinct developmental curves based on the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Neurology
  • Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

  • Cerebral palsy (CP) significantly impacts motor development in children.
  • Understanding longitudinal motor trajectories is crucial for targeted interventions.
  • The Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) categorizes CP severity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the longitudinal motor development patterns in children with CP in Sweden.
  • To analyze these patterns in relation to GMFCS levels.
  • To validate existing models of motor development in a national, population-based cohort.

Main Methods:

  • A national registry-based study including 2138 children (0.5-19 years) with CP.
  • Utilized 5538 Gross Motor Function Measure-66 (GMFM-66) assessments.
  • Employed non-linear mixed-effects regression models, specifically the Stable Limit Model.

Main Results:

  • Five distinct curves of predicted gross motor development were identified, corresponding to GMFCS levels.
  • Motor development achievements were generally maintained over time within each GMFCS level.
  • Estimated average GMFM-66 limits and ages for reaching 90% of expected limits varied significantly by GMFCS level.

Conclusions:

  • This is the first national population-based study to track motor development in CP.
  • The findings confirm five distinct motor development curves previously suggested in controlled studies.
  • The study provides valuable insights into motor development within children's real-world contexts.

Keywords:
cerebral palsychildrengross motor function classification systemgross motor function measure 66motor activities

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