ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine which characteristics of children predict measures on the Standardized Walking Obstacle Course (SWOC). METHODS: SWOC testing was performed under 3 conditions: (1) walk, (2) walk with a tray, and (3) walk wearing shaded glasses. Trials consisted of standing up, walking the course in 1 direction, and sitting down. Children (n = 440) completed 2 trials per condition. Trial measures included time, and numbers of steps, stumbles, and steps off the path. Relationships were evaluated using Chi-square analyses and significant predictors were determined by multiple logistic regression analyses. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated to determine the accuracy of disability as a predictor. RESULTS: Age, weight, and disability were the strongest predictors (P < .05). Increased age and weight predicted shorter time and fewest steps. Disability predicts longer time and most steps. CONCLUSION: The SWOC is appropriate to screen children for disabilities in functional ambulation.
Subject(s)
Developmental Disabilities/diagnosis , Walking/physiology , Activities of Daily Living , Adolescent , Age Factors , Body Weight , Case-Control Studies , Child , Child, Preschool , Developmental Disabilities/rehabilitation , Disability Evaluation , Female , Health Status Indicators , Humans , Logistic Models , Male , Physical Therapy Modalities , Predictive Value of Tests , Prognosis , Reproducibility of Results , Risk Factors , Sensitivity and Specificity , Statistics as Topic , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To investigate Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) performance in children developing typically. METHODS: The PBS was administered to 643 children developing typically per parent report, aged 2 years 4 months to 13 years 7 months. RESULTS: A 2-way analysis of variance and post hoc analyses identified significant age and gender differences in PBS performance. The Spearman rank correlation analysis identified associations between PBS scores and age, height, weight, and body mass index. Data were analyzed using 95% confidence intervals of the means to identify PBS typical performance ranges for each age and gender group. The lower bound of the 95% confidence intervals was used to identify outliers and determine a "critical cut score" for each group. The numbers and percentages of children scoring above and below this critical cut score were calculated to further describe the sample. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the clinician with guidelines for interpretation of PBS performance.
Subject(s)
Activities of Daily Living , Child Development , Motor Skills/physiology , Pediatrics , Postural Balance/physiology , Adolescent , Age Factors , Analysis of Variance , Body Height , Body Mass Index , Body Weight , Child , Child, Preschool , Confidence Intervals , Female , Humans , Male , Reproducibility of Results , Sex Factors , Statistics, NonparametricABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study reports reliability of the Standardized Walking Obstacle Course (SWOC) and concurrent validity with the Timed Up and Go (TUG) for use in children with and without developmental disabilities. METHODS: Seventy-three children completed the SWOC and TUG during each of two sessions scheduled one week apart. Two raters took measures of time and number of steps on the SWOC to correlate with the same measures on the TUG. RESULTS: Very high interrater reliabilities for time (intercorrelation coefficient [ICC] 0.99) and number of steps (ICC 0.94-0.99) noted. High intrarater reliabilities recorded for time (ICC 0.83-0.97) and number of steps (ICC 0.84-0.96). Significant correlations (p < 0.05) between the TUG and SWOC were moderate to very high for time (r = 0.72-0.90) and number of steps (r = 0.63-0.92). CONCLUSION: The SWOC demonstrates good reliability within and between raters and concurrent validity with the TUG for use with children to establish their functional ambulation capability. The SWOC could easily be used in any setting for any child who can follow the directions and walk without an assistive device. Further testing is needed of the use of the SWOC to detect change and measure the extent of the environment's influence on activity and participation for different populations of children.
Subject(s)
Developmental Disabilities/physiopathology , Motor Skills/physiology , Physical Therapy Specialty/instrumentation , Postural Balance/physiology , Walking/physiology , Activities of Daily Living , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Disability Evaluation , Female , Humans , Male , New York , Observer Variation , Physical Therapy Specialty/methodsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Most research details the influence of orthoses on impairments in children with cerebral palsy. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of orthoses on multiple tests of function. METHODS: The researchers used the Standardized Walking Obstacle Course (SWOC), Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS), performance on individualized goals related upright function, and self-reports of comfort and stability with and without orthoses to examine 28 children (5.4-19.1 years of age) with cerebral palsy. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in performance on the SWOC and PBS with and without orthoses. Only 18% of the children performed better on an individualized goal with their orthoses, but 48% of the children reported more feelings of comfort and stability while wearing orthoses. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study bring into question the use of orthoses to improve functional balance and ambulation in children with cerebral palsy.
