Abstract
Purpose: This study evaluated intraobserver reliability and construct validity of the squat test to assess lower extremity strength in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and spastic diplegia. Methods: Children with CP performed 2 trials of the squat test and calculated the intraclass correlation coefficient to evaluate intraobserver reliability. Correlations between outcomes of hand-held dynamometry (HHD) of knee extensor strength and an 8-repetition maximum (8RM) leg press test and the squat test were calculated to evaluate construct validity. Results: Excellent intraobserver reliability was observed for the squat test. Correlations between squat test performance and HHD knee extension and 8RM leg press test demonstrated good construct validity. Conclusions: The squat test is a reliable and valid tool to assess lower extremity strength in children with CP and spastic diplegia. The squat test is inexpensive and less time-consuming, and therefore particularly suitable for clinicians.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 399-403 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Pediatric physical therapy |
| Volume | 32 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Oct 2020 |
Funding
Correspondence: Maaike M. Eken, PhD, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, the Netherlands ([email protected]). Grant Support: This study was supported by a grant from the Revalidatie-fonds (R2015-045). The funding source had no other role than financial support. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Keywords
- Cerebral palsy
- Lower extremity
- Muscle strength
- Reliability
- Validity