The assessment of selective motor control and investigation of the effect on activity, participation and health-related quality of life in children with spastic cerebral palsy

The aim of this study was to assess the selective motor control and investigate the effect of selective motor control on activity, participation and health related quality of life in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). In addition, the Turkish version, validity and reliability studies of the Selective Control Assessment of the Lower Extremity (SCALE) and Selective Control of the Upper Extremity Scale (SCUES) were also planned. 52 children with spastic CP with aged between 4-18 years were included into the study. Selective motor control, functional levels, muscle tone, upper extremity functions, gross motor function, activity-participation and quality of life were evaluated. First evaluations were recorded on video. After 2 weeks, SCALE and SCUES tools were scored again via same video. SCALE tool was found to have high intrarater reliability (ICC=0.996). SCALE tool was highly correlated with Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Physician Rating Scale (PRS) and Gross Motor Function Measurement (GMFM) (r= -0.786/- 0.743/0.761/0.863, p<0.001). SCUES tool was found to have high intrarater reliability (ICC=0.982). SCUES tool was highly correlated with Manual Ability Classification System (MACS), Upper Limb Physician's Rating Scale (ULPRS), MAS and Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test (QUEST) (r= -0.672/0.879/- 0.937/0.813, p<0.001). Selective motor control ability was found effective on activity-participation and health-related quality of life (p<0.001-0.05). Assessment of selective motor control skills is very important in children with spastic CP. Improvement in selective motor control skills will also improve activity-participation and health-related quality of life. Anahtar Kelimeler: serebral palsi, alt ekstremite, üst ekstremite, selektif motor kontrol, yaşam kalitesi