Satomi Kawarada, RPT, MS, Izumi Kondo, MD, PhD, Shigeru Sonoda, MD, PhD, Eri Yokoyama,
RPT, MA, Yuko Tazawa, RPT, Yoshihiko Yabunaka, RPT, MS
Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 2: 82-88, 2011
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate
the relationship between range of motion of lower
extremity and gross motor function in children with
cerebral palsy (CP) who have walking ability.
Methods: The subjects were 30 children with CP who
were able to walk and were classified as level I - III
according to the Gross Motor Function Classification
System for children with CP (GMFCS). We measured
range of motion (ROM) of lower extremity as follows:
1) hip joint extension in Thomas posture; 2) knee joint
extension; and 3) ankle joint dorsiflexion under knee
joint extension. At the same time, we evaluated gross
motor function at the dimension of standing and the
dimension of walking, running and jumping by gross
motor function measure (GMFM).
Results: There was a significant difference in ROM of
hip joint extension between GMFCS level I and III
and also between GMFCS level II and III, and hip
joint ROM was closely related to gross motor function.
ROM of knee joint extension was more limited in
GMFCS level I - II children than in GMFCS level III.
ROM of ankle joint extension did not differ significantly
among the 3 GMFCS levels, and the correlation
between ankle joint ROM and gross motor function
was weak.
Conclusion: The results suggested that lower extremity
ROM is one of the factors related to gross motor
function in children with CP.
Key words: children with cerebral palsy, range of motion of lower extremity, gross motor function