Gross Motor Function and Activities of Daily Living in Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy: a Longitudinal Study

We aimed to examine the time evolution of gross motor function and activities of daily living (ADL) performance in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP). Data on 222 children and adolescents with CP were collected over a 3-year period. Gross motor function and ADL performance were assessed using the gross motor function measure and the functional skill section of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory, respectively. Latent growth curve models of zero-change, linear, 2nd-year, and 3rd-year variation in gross motor function and ADL performance were constructed. The relation between these two indicators of movement disability was evaluated via multivariate latent growth modeling. The 2nd- and 3rd-year variation models reflected the time evolution of gross motor function and ADL performance, respectively. The initial level of gross motor function affected the initial level and growth rate of ADL performance. Additionally, the rate of change in gross motor function affected the rate of the change in ADL performance. Children and adolescents with CP should undergo continuous rehabilitation focused on gross motor function.