In spastic cerebral palsy, there are interrelated neuromuscular deficits that can affect ankle joint control, including impaired selective voluntary motor control, muscle weakness, spasticity, and shortened muscle-tendon units. As a result, it is important to assess ankle joint control in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Clinicians need valid, reliable, and practical methods to assess ankle joint control. The aim of this study is to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Foot-taping Test in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term that refers to a permanent group of movement, posture, and/or motor function disorders caused by a non-progressive lesion or abnormality in the developing immature brain. In spastic cerebral palsy, there are interrelated neuromuscular deficits that can affect ankle joint control, impaired selective voluntary motor control, muscle weakness, spasticity, and shortened muscle-tendon units. As a result, it is important to assess ankle joint control in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Clinicians need valid, reliable, and practical methods to assess ankle joint control. The aim of this study is to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Foot-taping Test in children with spastic cerebral palsy. This study will conduct Department of Orthopedic Prosthesis-Orthosis at Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University Atatürk Health Services Vocational School. Children aged 6-18 with spastic cerebral palsy (diparetic and hemiparetic) from two different special education institutions in the Aegean Region will be included in the study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• ≤3 diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy according to the Gross Motor Function and Classification System
• Be between 6 and 18 years of age
• Be diagnosed with spastic diplegic or spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy
• Have a GMFCS score ≤3
• Have a Communication Function Classification System (CFCS) score ≤2
• Have a Modified Ashworth Scale (MASH) score ≤3 for lower limb muscles
• Be able to walk 10 metres independently
• Be able to follow verbal commands

Exclusion Criteria:

• The presence of serious hearing, vision or cognitive problems,
• The presence of nerve block injections or orthopaedic surgery within the last 6 months (such as Botox injections or muscle lengthening surgery)

Children with spastic cerebral palsy from two different Special Education Institutions in the Aegean Region will be included in the study. All participants and their guardians will be informed about the aims of the study and the evaluation procedure. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants and their guardians before the study. The study will be conducted by the principles of the Helsinki Declaration.