Reliability of the PEDI, GMFM, TUG tests and their clinical importance in children with cerebral palsy.

The aim of the present study was the control and determination of the PEDI, GMFM and TUG test's reliability in children with cerebral palsy. 20 children with cerebral paralysis took part in the research (7 with tetraplegia, 6 with diplegia and 7 with right hemiplegia). The basic inclusion criterion was the absence of other dysfunctions such as learning difficulties, loss of sensation, or any kind of illness. The individuals should not have undergone orthopaedic operation or drug treatment 6 months prior to the research, that would influence the spasticity, as well as to not have participated in other therapeutic programs but for physiotherapy. For the collection of the data, PEDI, GMFM, TUG tests were used. Then the measurements were carried out in two days. The first (T1) and second (T2) measurement, which were conducted a day apart from each other, were conducted under the exact same conditions. In the present study the GMFM, PEDI and TUG tests' clinical importance and reliability were checked. The results showed that the tests posses a great degree of reliability, a finding that is in agreement with the international literature. In particular, regarding the GMFM the scores for the overall test were ICC=0.99, RMSdif(%) (mean±SD)=0,76±0,86 with standard error 0,50 and variance coefficient CV%=0,75±0,8. From the results of the PEDI test the reliability was ascertained satisfactorily. Specifically the scores were ICC=0,99, RMSdif(%) (mean±SD)=0,98±1,84, with standard error 0,72 and variance coefficient CV%=1,00± 1,9. Regarding the TUG test, in the research the scores were ICC=0,99, RMSdif(%)(mean±SD)=6,19±4,94, with standard error 0,97 and variance coefficient CV%=6,35±5,3. It is, consequently recommended that they should be applied in order to evaluate the functional ability of children with C.P. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]