Relationship Between Mobility and Self-Care Activity in Children With Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the factors influencing the development of self-care activity, and the association between mobility and self-care activity in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: A total of 63 CP children aged ≥4 years, were studied retrospectively. Children with severe intellectual disability or behavioral problems were excluded. The relationship between the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS), and the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) was analyzed. Simple and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted for continuous variables, such as verbal intelligence quotient (IQ) and PEDI subscales.

Results: Final evaluation was done for 25 children, ranging from 4 to 11 years of age. According to GMFCS levels, the differences in PEDI-self-care scores, showed statistically borderline significance (p=0.051). Conversely, differences in PEDI-self-care scores according to CP types and MACS levels were not statistically significant. Simple linear regression analysis showed that PEDI mobility and PEDI social function significantly influence the PEDI self-care. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that PEDI mobility was the only factor significantly influencing PEDI self-care in children aged ≥7 years (R²=0.875, p=0.03).

Conclusion: Mobility is important for the acquisition of self-care abilities in children with CP aged ≥7 years.

Keywords: Activities of daily living; Cerebral palsy; Mobility limitation; Self care.

Fig. 1. The distribution of hand function is significantly associated with the severity of gross motor function. GMFCS, Gross Motor Function Classification System; MACS, Manual Ability Classification System.