This study sought to examine the reliability and validity of three generic instruments for measuring the health of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and to compare them with a disease-specific measure, the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM). The Pediatric Evaluation and Disability Inventory (PEDI), the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI), and the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) were completed by the primary caregivers of 115 young children with spastic CP. The GMFM was administered to the children. The mean age of the sample was 5 years 8 months (range 3:1 to 10:4) and consisted of more males (58%) than females. The PEDI scales demonstrated higher internal consistency than the PODCI and CHQ scales. In comparison with the GMFM, the PODCI transfer and mobility scale (relative validity, 62%) and the PEDI mobility scale (relative validity, 53%) detected the most significant health differences between children with hemiplegia, diplegia, and quadriplegia. The PEDI social function scale detected the largest differences in cognitive function between children with an IQ of less than 70 compared with those with an IQ of 70 or greater. The reliability and validity of these different instruments varied significantly in this patient population.

This study sought to examine the reliability and validity of three generic instruments for measuring the health of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and to compare them with a disease-specific measure, the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM). The Pediatric Evaluation and Disability Inventory (PEDI), the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI), and the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) were completed by the primary caregivers of 115 young children with spastic CP. The GMFM was administered to the children. The mean age of the sample was 5 years 8 months (range 3:1 to 10:4) and consisted of more males (58%) than females. The PEDI scales demonstrated higher internal consistency than the PODCI and CHQ scales. In comparison with the GMFM, the PODCI transfer and mobility scale (relative validity, 62%) and the PEDI mobility scale (relative validity, 53%) detected the most significant health differences between children with hemiplegia, diplegia, and quadriplegia. The PEDI social function scale detected the largest differences in cognitive function between children with an IQ of less than 70 compared with those with an IQ of 70 or greater. The reliability and validity of these different instruments varied significantly in this patient population.

In this study, patients who played tennis after undergoing a total knee arthroplasty were analyzed in terms of their functional abilities and degree of satisfaction. The patients were recruited by means of a questionnaire that was sent to players from lists supplied by the United States Tennis Association. The study group consisted of 28 men and 5 women (46 total knee replacements) with a mean age of 64 years. Only 21% (7 of 33) of the patients' surgeons approved of their patients undertaking tennis activity, with 45% (15 of 33) recommending only doubles tennis. At both 1 year and a mean of 7 years after arthroplasty, players were playing both singles and doubles tennis approximately three times per week (range, one to seven). All tennis players polled were satisfied with their knee arthroplasties and their ability to resume playing tennis. Because the study patients played at a high level, future studies are needed to determine the effect of tennis on the general population, which does not play at such a uniformly high level. The long-term (15 to 20 years) effect of tennis activity on the clinical and radiologic outcome of total knee arthroplasty also needs to be determined.