Performance of school-aged children with cerebral palsy at GMFCS levels I and II on high-level, sports-focussed gross motor assessments

Purpose: To investigate performance of children with cerebral palsy (CP) at GMFCS Levels I-II on sports-focussed gross motor assessments; and concurrent validity of mainstream and CP-specific high-level assessment batteries and field tests. Methods: Fifty-four children (6–12 years) with CP at GMFCS I-II completed the Test of Gross Motor Development-second edition, Gross Motor Function Measure-Challenge Module, Muscle Power Sprint Test (MPST), 10 x 5 m Sprint Test (10 x 5 mST), Vertical Jump, Broad Jump, and Seated Throw. Correlations between measures, age and mobility level, and group differences between age and mobility level were examined and content analysis performed. Results: Children at GMFCS I demonstrated significantly higher gross motor assessment battery scores than children at GMFCS II (U = 73.5–109.0, p < 0.001). Performance improved with age for children at Level I but not II. Children with higher overall motor scores scored higher on running (MPST, 10 x 5 mST, r = –0.516 to –0.816, p < 0.001), jumping (Vertical Jump, Broad Jump, r = 0.499–0.774, p < 0.001) and throwing (Seated Throw, r = 0.341–0.500, p = 0.012< 0.001) field tests. Conclusions: High-level gross motor assessments were achievable and appropriately challenging for children with CP at GMFCS I-II. Scores discriminated between performance and were associated with mobility level. Concurrent validity was established between gross motor assessment batteries, and locomotor field tests.