The responsiveness and validity of the Early Clinical Assessment of Balance in toddlers with cerebral palsy: Brief report

ABSTRACT

Purpose: The Early Clinical Assessment of Balance (ECAB) is a measure of postural stability for children with cerebral palsy (CP). The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between the ECAB and Gross Motor Function Measure-66 (GMFM-66) and to determine the responsiveness of the ECAB in children with CP under three years of age.

Methods: Twenty seven children (mean age of 25 months) participated. Data were collected before and after 3 and 6 months of physical therapy. Responsiveness was calculated using standardized response means (SRM).

Results: Significant relationships were observed between the ECAB, GMFM-66 score (r = 0.87), and GMFM subscales (r = 0.63–0.86). A moderate effect size (SRM = 0.62) and a large effect size (SRM = 0.92) for the ECAB were found over the 3- and 6-month intervention periods, respectively.

Conclusion: These results support the validity and responsiveness of the ECAB in young children with CP.

KEYWORDS:

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

Acknowledgments

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

Disclosure Statement

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

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Additional information

Funding

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