Repeatability and comparison of clinical tests in children with spastic diplegia and with typical development^1,2

Repetibilidade e comparação de testes clínicos para crianças diparéticas e com desenvolvimento típico

Abstract

Objective  The aims of this study were to evaluate the reliability of three range of motion tests (Straight Leg Raise, Modified Thomas, and Duncan-Ely) using photographic measurements in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (SD) and with typical development (TD).

Methods  A cross-sectional test-retest design was applied to compare muscle-tendon unit shortening tests between groups.

Results  The tests showed reliability that ranged from good to excellent (ICC > 0.8), except for the Thomas Test for the bi-articular hip flexor muscle-tendon unit of the TD group (ICC = 0.7). Differences between groups were found in all tests (p < 0.05), except when the range of motion of the bi-articular hip flexor muscles was assessed using the Thomas test (p > 0.05).

Conclusion  Children with SD presents a smaller range of motion than the TD group. However, the Thomas Test for the bi-articular hip flexor muscles was unable to determine differences between children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy from that with typical development.

Diplegia; Range of motion; Photographic measurements; Clinical tests; Cerebral palsy