Matsunaga N1,2, Ito T2, Noritake K3, Sugiura H3, Kamiya Y4, Mizusawa J1,2, Hamabe Y1,2, Sugiura H1
1Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Physical Therapy, Nagoya, Japan, 2Aichi Prefectural Mikawa Aoitori Medical and Rehabilitation Center for Developmental Disabilities, Three-Dimensional Motion Analysis Room, Okazaki, Japan, 3Aichi Prefectural Mikawa Aoitori Medical and Rehabilitation Center for Developmental Disabilities, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Okazaki, Japan, 4Nagoya University Hospital, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nagoya, Japan
Background: Gait disorder is the most common disability in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy (CP). According to a previous study, health-related quality of life (HQOL) in children with CP is associated with gait characteristics (Jaspers E, et al: Eur J Paediatr Neurol, 2013.). However, the relationship between gait characteristics and parents´ HQOL and, gait characteristics and family functioning remain unclear. In this study, we measured gait speed, gait deviation, gait efficiency, and gait balance to explore whether these gait characteristics could affect parents´ HQOL and family functioning.
Purpose: The goal of this study was to examine the impact of gait characteristics on parents´ HQOL and family functioning in ambulatory children with CP.
Methods: We included ambulatory children with CP at Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level Ⅰ-Ⅲ. All their guardians provided written informed consent. We used the Peds QL Family Impact Module (FIM) to assess parents´ HQOL and family functioning (Varni JW, et al: Health Qual Life Outcomes, 2004.). Outcome measurements included GS, the Gait Deviation Index (GDI), the Physiological Cost Index (PCI), and Timed up and go test (TUG). GS and the GDI were obtained by three-dimensional gait analysis. The GDI was calculated according to a method reported by Schwartz MH (Schwartz MH, et al: Gait Posture, 2008.). Levels of associations between FIM and each gait parameter (GS, the GDI, the PCI, and TUG) were tested using correlation coefficients. A multiple liner regression analysis was performed to examine correlations between FIM and each gait parameter. The analysis was adjusted for confounding variables including age, gender and GMFCS level. All analyses were performed with SPSS ver. 24.0. P 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: GS and the GDI were significantly associated with FIM. However, there were no significant correlations between FIM and TUG, and FIM and the PCI. Moreover, a multiple liner regression analysis showed significant independent correlation between FIM and GS, and FIM and the GDI.
Conclusion(s): Our findings showed that gait deviation and GS in children with CP were independently related to parents´ HQOL and family functioning while gait efficiency and gait balance didn't have significant impact on parents´ HQOL and family functioning. On the other hand, greater gait deviation and GS may increase parents´ HQOL and family functioning. GS and the GDI could be a useful tool because there are related to children's and parents' HQOL and family functioning in children with CP.
Implications: To our knowledge, this is the first study to identify the relationship between FIM and GS, and FIM and the GDI in ambulatory children with CP. A further study would be necessary to explore this possibility.
Keywords: Gait characteristics, Family functioning, Cerebral palsy
Funding acknowledgements: The authors have no other financial disclosures and conflict of interest to report.
Purpose: The goal of this study was to examine the impact of gait characteristics on parents´ HQOL and family functioning in ambulatory children with CP.
Methods: We included ambulatory children with CP at Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level Ⅰ-Ⅲ. All their guardians provided written informed consent. We used the Peds QL Family Impact Module (FIM) to assess parents´ HQOL and family functioning (Varni JW, et al: Health Qual Life Outcomes, 2004.). Outcome measurements included GS, the Gait Deviation Index (GDI), the Physiological Cost Index (PCI), and Timed up and go test (TUG). GS and the GDI were obtained by three-dimensional gait analysis. The GDI was calculated according to a method reported by Schwartz MH (Schwartz MH, et al: Gait Posture, 2008.). Levels of associations between FIM and each gait parameter (GS, the GDI, the PCI, and TUG) were tested using correlation coefficients. A multiple liner regression analysis was performed to examine correlations between FIM and each gait parameter. The analysis was adjusted for confounding variables including age, gender and GMFCS level. All analyses were performed with SPSS ver. 24.0. P 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: GS and the GDI were significantly associated with FIM. However, there were no significant correlations between FIM and TUG, and FIM and the PCI. Moreover, a multiple liner regression analysis showed significant independent correlation between FIM and GS, and FIM and the GDI.
Conclusion(s): Our findings showed that gait deviation and GS in children with CP were independently related to parents´ HQOL and family functioning while gait efficiency and gait balance didn't have significant impact on parents´ HQOL and family functioning. On the other hand, greater gait deviation and GS may increase parents´ HQOL and family functioning. GS and the GDI could be a useful tool because there are related to children's and parents' HQOL and family functioning in children with CP.
Implications: To our knowledge, this is the first study to identify the relationship between FIM and GS, and FIM and the GDI in ambulatory children with CP. A further study would be necessary to explore this possibility.
Keywords: Gait characteristics, Family functioning, Cerebral palsy
Funding acknowledgements: The authors have no other financial disclosures and conflict of interest to report.
Topic: Paediatrics: cerebral palsy; Paediatrics; Mental health
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Aichi Mikawa Aoitori Medical and Rehabilitation Center for Developmental Disabilities
Ethics committee: Aichi Mikawa Aoitori Medical and Rehabilitation Center for Developmental Disabilities
Ethics number: 29002
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
