Test-retest reliability of a 1-minute walk test in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (BSCP)

The test–retest reliability of a 1-min walk test at a child’s maximum walking speed was assessed in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (BSCP). Twelve male and five female children (age range 3– 18 years, mean age 12 years 8months) participated in the study. Childrenwere classified as GMFCS level I (n = 5), level II (n = 8) and level III (n = 4). Results showed that for walk tests performed on different days, distances varied by no more than 13.1 m (for 95% of participants) and that a practice walk was vital for reducing systematic bias. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.94. A 1-min walk test is a reliable method of assessing function in children with CP but care must be taken when interpreting changes in individual patient data. 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. * Corresponding author at: Gait Analysis Laboratory, Musgrave Park Hospital, Stockman’s Lane, Belfast, BT9 7JB, N. Ireland, United Kingdom. Tel.: +44 2890902556; fax: +44 2890661112. E-mail address: [email protected] (B.C. McDowell).