Desempenho funcional em mobilidade de crianças com paralisia cerebral de acordo com a função motora grossa

Abstract

The objective of the study was to evaluate the functional performance in mobility of children with cerebral palsy (CP) according to gross motor function. The study is of the transversal type of quantitative approach, and contemplated 39 children from 04 to 07 years with diagnosis of cerebral palsy. The variables studied were age, sex, family income, whether or not attending school, associated disorders, CP type and topography, and the level of the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS); and an interview with the parents/guardians using Part I and II of "mobility" of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI). The results show that the mean scores of PEDI obtained in each of the five GMFCS levels were significantly different (p <0,05), except between levels I and II, II and III; and that children in the IV and V level had functional performance significantly lower than all other levels (p=0,00). Therefore, the greater the degree of impairment of gross motor function, the lower the child's ability to perform functional abilities related to mobility and the lower his independence. Children of mild and moderate GMFCS show similarities in their functional performances, while the severe (levels IV and V) were different from each other and inferior in comparison to the others.