Construct Validity of the Early Clinical Assessment of Balance in Toddlers with Cerebral Palsy: Brief Report

ABSTRACT

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to investigate differences in Early Clinical Assessment of Balance (ECAB) scores within children with cerebral palsy (CP) with different Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels and between children with CP and typical development (TD) who are under three years of age.

Methods: The ECAB was administered to fifty children (13 with TD, 16 with GMFCS level II, 11 with GMFCS level III, 10 with GMFCS level III).

Results: The group of children of TD had significantly higher scores than all groups of children with CP. There were significant differences in ECAB within the groups of children with CP with different GMFCS levels.

Conclusion: The results of this study support the construct validity of the ECAB as a measure of postural control in children under three years of age with CP.

KEYWORDS:

• Cerebral palsy
• toddlers
• motor development
• postural control
• balance

Acknowledgments

We offer special thanks to the children who participated in this study and their families.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. This research was supported in part by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation (H133G140166).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research [Grant H133G140166].