Assessment of Strength and Function in Ambulatory Children with Cerebral Palsy by GMFCS Level and Age: A Cross-Sectional Study

b Shriners Hospitals for Children-Northern California, Sacramento, CA. c Shriners Hospitals for Children-Springfield, Springfield, MA. d Uni- versity of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA. e Shriners Hospitals for Children-Lexington, Lexington, KY. f ABSTRACT: The purpose of this work is to provide comparison data for muscle strength and measures of activity and participation stratified by GMFCS level, age, and cerebral palsy (CP) type. Clinicians can use the data to determine treatment goals based on the patients' matched peer group. Methods used were data were collected on 377 individuals with hemiplegia and diplegia, GMFCS levels I-III, ages eight to18 years. Lower extrem- ity muscle strength, Gillette gait index (GGI), one-minute walk test (1MWT), and timed up-and-go (TUG) were collected. Results showed that strength differed among GMFCS levels and age for both CP types. The GGI and 1 MWT discriminated among GMFCS levels within each CP type. The TUG discriminated between GMFCS levels I and III and levels II and III for the diplegic group. We conclude that differences in strength and mea- sures of activity and participation were found across GMFCS levels and CP type. The reported stratified data can serve as an important clinical tool in determining realistic treatment goals and clinical outcomes.