Upper limb assessment in children with cerebral palsy: Translation and reliability of the French version for the Melbourne unilateral upper limb assessment ( test de Melbourne )

• Published in: Annals of physical and rehabilitation medicine 2009-05, Vol.52 (4), p.297-310
• Main Authors: Bard, R, Chaléat-Valayer, E, Combey, A, Bleu, P.E, Perretant, I, Bernard, J.-C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Assessment; Biological and medical sciences; Cerebral palsy; Cerebral Palsy - physiopathology; Child; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Diseases of the osteoarticular system. Orthopedic treatment; Female; French version; Functional Laterality; Headache. Facial pains. Syncopes. Epilepsia. Intracranial hypertension. Brain oedema. Cerebral palsy; Humans; Internal Medicine; Language; Male; Medical sciences; Melbourne test; Membre supérieur; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurologic Examination - methods; Neurology; Observer Variation; Paralysie cérébrale; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Psychometrics; Psychomotor Performance; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Reproducibility of Results; Test de Melbourne; Upper Extremity - physiopathology; Upper limb; Version française; Évaluation
• ISSN: 1877-0657; 1877-0665
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rehab.2009.02.007

Abstract Introduction The Melbourne unilateral upper limb assessment evaluates upper limb function in children with neurologic impairment aged from 5 to 15 years old. Its validity and reliability have been well demonstrated for the English version, which supports this tool as a reference tool. Objectives To present the French version of the Melbourne, its validity and reliability in order to offer French-speaking clinicians a relevant tool. Patients and methods The criterion validity was studied in a group of 46 children (mean age 10.6 years, gross motor function classification system in cerebral palsy [GMFCS] 1 to 4) in comparison with Box and Block test; the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability was studied in a group of 11 hemiplegic children (mean age 9.8 years, GMFCS 1 or 2). Results The French version of the Melbourne test has a good criterion validity, with a good correlation between the score of Melbourne and the score of Box and Block test; the intra-rater reliability is very high or excellent, the inter-rater reliability is good on the whole, from moderate to excellent depending on the items. Conclusion The Melbourne test is a tool which has good psychometric properties. The French version is usable and reliable.