Evaluation of the Applicability and Reliability of the Three Meter Backwalk Test in Children With Cerebral Palsy (CP)

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a non-progressive disturbance in the development of movement and posture that occurs in the prenatal or postnatal period, causing activity limitations. Most children and adolescents with CP experience limitations in their walking skills. Restrictions in the walking ability of children with CP are an important issue for both parents and healthcare professionals involved in their treatment. The evaluation of walking is of great importance in terms of determining the effectiveness of the physiotherapy program, shaping the program, planning orthopedic and surgical applications, and determining the effectiveness, especially in children with CP who have walking potential. In the literature, easy-to-use, valid and reliable observational gait analysis that can evaluate gait pathologies and clinical gait in children with CP are emphasized. These measurements are of great importance in clinical practice.The ability of backward walking gives the child a different task than normal, allowing the observation of body perception, trunk stability provided by anterior-posterior co-contractions, balance, correction and protective reactions.