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Energy efficiency in gait, activity, participation, and health status in children with cerebral palsy
Author(s) -
Kerr Claire,
Parkes Jackie,
Stevenson Mike,
Cosgrove Aidan P,
McDowell Brona C
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
developmental medicine and child neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.658
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1469-8749
pISSN - 0012-1622
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8749.2008.02030.x
Subject(s) - cerebral palsy , gait , spastic , gross motor skill , gross motor function classification system , psychosocial , physical medicine and rehabilitation , physical therapy , spastic cerebral palsy , medicine , psychology , motor skill , psychiatry
The aim of the study was to establish if a relationship exists between the energy efficiency of gait, and measures of activity limitation, participation restriction, and health status in a representative sample of children with cerebral palsy (CP). Secondary aims were to investigate potential differences between clinical subtypes and gross motor classification, and to explore other relationships between the measures under investigation. A longitudinal study of a representative sample of 184 children with ambulant CP was conducted (112 males, 72 females; 94 had unilateral spastic C P, 84 had bilateral spastic C P, and six had non‐spastic forms; age range 4‐17y; Gross Motor Function Classification System Level I, n =57; Level II, n =91; Level III, n =22; and Level IV, n =14); energy efficiency (oxygen cost) during gait, activity limitation, participation restriction, and health status were recorded. Energy efficiency during gait was shown to correlate significantly with activity limitations; no relationship between energy efficiency during gait was found with either participation restriction or health status. With the exception of psychosocial health, all other measures showed significant differences by clinical subtype and gross motor classification. The energy efficiency of walking is not reflective of participation restriction or health status. Thus, therapies leading to improved energy efficiency may not necessarily lead to improved participation or general health.