Changes in Capacity and Performance in Mobility Across Different Environmental Settings in Children with Cerebral Palsy: An Exploratory Study

• Main Authors: Shraddha Diwan, Jasmin Diwan, Ankita B. Bansal, Pankaj R. Patel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited 2015-08-01
• Series: Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
• Subjects: community; icf; motor capacity
• Online Access: https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/6399/11639_CE(RA1)_F(T)_PF1(PAK)_PFA(AK)_PF2(PAG).pdf

Background: Children with cerebral palsy, although having similar diagnosis, varies in their abilities & level of functioning within & across different environmental context e.g. home, school or community setting. Capacity (what a child can do in standardized, controlled environment) may or may not be the same as performance (what a child actually does do in her/her daily environment). Materials and Methods: After getting approval from Institutional Ethic’s Committee (IEC), 63 children with cerebral palsy (4-16 year, mean 7.4 year with SD 0.39) of all clinical types, Gross Motor Functional Classification System (GMFCS) level I-V were examined for mobility using Gross Motor Functional Measure 88 (GMFM). Motor capacity was assessed in clinical setting by highest of 3 GMFM items attained, i.e., crawling (44), walks with support (68) & walks without support (70). Motor performance was measured by Functional Mobility Scale version 2. Result: On analysis of motor capacity 42.85% children were walking without support, 15.87% were able to crawl & 26.98% were able walk with support in clinical setting. Spearman’s Correlation was done between GMFM item 70 with FMS 5 (home setting) to check correlation of capacity with performance & was found to be significantly correlated (r=0.586, p=0.04). All three GMFM items were correlated with FMS 5, 50, 500 & found positively correlated. For community setting (FMS 500), 52.38% children were lifted by parents & only 6.34% were using wheel chair mobility. A total of 21.87% patients were able to walk with or without support & still lifted by parents in school or community setting. Conclusion: Change in capacity and performance of mobility exists mainly in school and community setting in studied population. Context should be given importance to prioritize rehabilitation process.