Relationship between Movement Quality, Functional Ambulation Status, and Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters in Children with Myelomeningocele.

AIMS: We investigated relationships among the Pediatric Neuromuscular Recovery Scale (Peds NRS), modified Hoffer Scale, and spatiotemporal gait parameters in children with myelomeningocele (MMC).

METHODS: 21 children with MMC, age 5.3 years (SD = 2.6), were assessed by three clinicians using the Peds NRS and modified Hoffer Scale. In eight children, gait parameters were also measured.

RESULTS: The Peds NRS summary score demonstrated good correlation with modified Hoffer Scale score ( r = -0.64, p  = 0.002) that accounted for 41% of variation in summary score. Six Peds NRS seated/standing items exhibited good relationships with modified Hoffer Scale ( r = -0.51 to -0.70, p  ≤ 0.023), and the sit-to-stand item demonstrated an excellent relationship ( r = -0.85, p  < 0.001). Sit-to-stand and three standing/walking items exhibited excellent associations with cadence ( R s = 0.81 to 0.88, p  ≤ 0.014), and swing and stance time (both R s = -0.83 to -0.90, p  ≤ 0.01). Two Peds NRS standing items and modified Hoffer Scale score demonstrated good correlations with velocity ( R s = 0.71, p  = 0.047; R s = -0.73, p  = 0.04, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that children with MMC who exhibit greater movement quality and trunk control are likely to be functional ambulators with more optimal spatiotemporal gait parameters.