| dc.description.abstract | Background: Cerebral palsy is a complex disorder that can cause several impairments affecting the
children’s mobility. Previous studies have mostly investigated specific interventions or gross motor
capability of children, but very few studies have explored the children’s preferred mobility methods in their
daily environments.
Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the preferred mobility methods in a population of children with
CP, in relation to age, CP characteristics, and CP related motor impairments.
Method and material: The study includes population-based longitudinal data from one consent-based
registry, the national motor follow-up program for children with CP (CPOP), but is designed as a crosssectional
study. The research participants consist of 773 children whom all were 4 years or older. Data
were collected from 01.01.2002-31-12.2017.
Results: There were statistically significant associations between functional mobility scale (FMS), subtype
of CP, severity of CP (GMFCS), spasticity and joint mobility restrictions. No significant associations were
found for FMS and age. The majority of children had a low severity of CP and walked independently across
home, school and community environments. Amongst the children with a higher level of CP, an increase in
wheelchair use was seen. There were a tendency of fewer children walking independently and more using
a wheelchair compared from the home to communal environments. Almost all of the children with high
severity of CP had bilateral spasticity, whereas unilateral spasticity encountered for most of the more selfmobilising
children.
Conclusion: The majority of children walked independently across their home, school and communal
environments. The largest proportion of children walking independently had GMFCS level I, whereas the
largest proportion of wheelchair users had GMFCS level IV and V. There was a positive correspondence
between the functional mobility scale and GMFCS levels, as well as that neither spasticity nor joint mobility
restrictions were hallmarks in terms of preventing children from walking independently across 5, 50 and
500-meter distances | en |
