Relationships between Gross Motor Abilities and Problematic Behaviors of Handicapped Children in Different Age Groups

[Purpose] In this study, we examined problematic behaviors of independent-walking andnon-independent-walking handicapped children in the infant, school child and adolescentdevelopment phases, using the Japanese version of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC-J)to determine if such behaviors relate to their gross motor abilities. [Subjects andMethods] The subjects were 86 handicapped children who were receiving physical therapy.The subjects were classified into three groups by age. Using the Gross Motor FunctionClassification System (GMFCS), each group was further divided into an independent-walkinggroup and non-independent-walking group. Thirteen physical therapists and 8 occupationaltherapists, who were treating the subject children, rated the subjects using the ABC-J.[Results] Significant differences were observed between the independent-walking and thenon-independent-walking groups in the stereotypy andlethargy scores of infants. [Conclusion] For schoolchildren andadolescents, no significant differences were observed between the independent-walking andthe non-independent-walking groups in their problematic behavior scores.Key words: Problematic behaviors, Handicapped children, Gross motor abilities