Pediatric Escola Paulista de Medicina Range of Motion scale: A reduced joint count scale for general use in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Objective, Different instruments are available to measure functional status in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA); however, none is based on the eval uation of joint range of motion (ROM). We designed and evaluated a ROM scal e to be used as a complementary instrument in daily practice with JRA as we ll as in trials. Methods. The 10 joint movements of the Pediatric Escola Paulista de Medicin a Range of Motion scale (Pediatric EPM-ROM) were derived from 25 initial mo vements. The selection was based on 2 criteria: (I) consensus among 3 pedia tric rheumatologists, one physical therapist, and one occupational therapis t; and (2) choice of movements that presented the highest scores in a pilot study involving patients with JRA. The score for each joint ranges from 0 (full movement) to 3 (severe limitation) and the cutoff degrees of motion a re, in general, based on the lack of ability to perform some activities of daily living. The test-retest reliability was assessed by administering the scale twice by the same observer, 4 to 10 days apart, always in the mornin g, The interobserver reliability was evaluated on the same day by 2 indepen dent observers. Cross sectional construct validity was also assessed by cor relating the values of some clinical variables with the scores of the Pedia tric EPM-ROM scale. Results. The instrument was applied to 34 patients with JRA, 11 systemic, 1 1 polyarticular, and 12 pauciarticular. The mean EPM-ROM score was 0.57 (SD 0.54, min 0, max 2.05). The test-retest and interobserver correlation coef ficients were 0.96 and 0.98, respectively. The Pearson correlation coeffici ents comparing scores of the Pediatric EPM-ROM scale and other variables we re satisfactory: Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire, r = 0.55 (p < 0 .001); American College of Rheumatology global functional class, r = 0.56 ( p < 0.001); and number of limited joints, r = 0.65 (p < 0.001). Conclusion. Our results provide evidence that the Pediatric EPM-ROM scale i s a valid instrument to measure joint ROM in JRA.