Relationship between clinical outcome measurements and muscle thickness in cerebral palsy

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization (WHO) uses the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) model to provide physical therapy diagnoses and interventions. However, the relationship between clinical assessment and imaging remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the relationships between body function/structure, activity, and participation outcomes following neurorehabilitation in children with cerebral palsy (CP). METHODS: Nineteen children (9 girls mean age 8.8 ± 1.8 years) with CP participated in this study. Clinical motor function tests included the quality of upper extremity skills test (QUEST), Wolf motor function test (WMFT), Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM), and the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT). Ultrasound imaging was used to measure muscle thickness, which characterizes the body structure, and activity domain variables. RESULTS: The correlations between body structure domain (muscle thickness), activity domain (QUEST, WMFT, WeeFIM) and participants variable (JTHFT) were significant, ranging from r=-0.484 to 0.893, P< 0.05. CONCLUSIONS: These novel findings suggest that muscle thickness ultrasound imaging is closely associated with WMFT, WeeFIM, and QUEST variables. This finding provides important clinical insights when using broad clinical assessment and imaging in children with CP.