Article

Parental report is often relied on to measure performance of activities in
children with cerebral palsy (CP). This study examined whether the Functional
Mobility Scale (FMS) accurately reflects performance of mobility in children with
CP. METHOD: Eighteen children with spastic CP (11 males, seven females; mean age
12 y 8 mo, SD 2 y 8 mo, range 8-17 y) were recruited from a special development
school. Children were in Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS)
levels II (n=5), III (n=4), or IV (n=9), and had quadriplegia (n=9), diplegia
(n=7), or hemiplegia (n=2). The children's mobility was observed directly around
and outside the home and at school and their mobility methods were recorded. The
parent's FMS rating was obtained on the telephone by a physiotherapist. Agreement
between direct observation and the FMS rating was examined using quadratic
weighted kappa (kappa) statistics. RESULTS: Agreement between direct observation
and the FMS was as follows: FMS 5m kappa=0.71, 45%; FMS 50m kappa=0.76, 94%; FMS
500m kappa=0.74, 95%. Differences in the range and number of mobility methods
were observed by GMFCS level across environmental settings. INTERPRETATION:
Substantial agreement was found between FMS ratings and direct observation,
particularly over longer distances, providing evidence of the validity of the FMS
as a measure of performance in children with CP.

Langue : ANGLAIS