Reliability and Concurrent Validity of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Background: The Bruininks-Oseretsky test (BOT2) assesses global and fine motor proficiency in healthy children. We evaluated concurrent validity and reliability of the short form (BOT2-SF) and the upper-limb items of the complete form (BOT2-UL) in children with Cerebral Palsy (CP). Methods: 15 CP children, Manual Ability Classification System (MACS)≤4 and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) ≤3, were evaluated with the BOT2-UL and 15 with the BOT2-SF. Results: Excellent inter-(ICC 0.99-UL, 0.95-SF) and intra-(ICC 0.99-UL, 0.98-SF) rater reliability; excellent inverse correlation between the BOT2-UL and the MACS level (ρ=-0.81-UL,-0.64-SF, p< 0.05); no statistically significant correlation between the BOT2-SF and the GMFCS level. Conclusion: The BOT2-UL and the BOT2-SF are reliable tests to evaluate upper-limb in CP children MACS levels 1-4 & GMFCS levels 1-3. Concurrent validity is excellent. Further studies are required to validate the BOT2-SF in this population.