Rehabilitation Assessment of Motor Function In Cerebral Palsy Using Explainable AI

Children with cerebral palsy (CP) commonly experience limitations in functional independence and mobility, which significantly affect participation and quality of life. Accurate assessment of these functional abilities is essential for rehabilitation planning, prognosis estimation, and monitoring treatment outcomes. However, conventional assessment methods largely depend on therapist observation and standardized clinical scales, which may be subjective, time-consuming, and less sensitive to complex interactions among clinical variables. In low-resource rehabilitation settings, the limited availability of advanced assessment technologies further restricts objective and data-driven clinical decision-making. Therefore, there is a growing need for innovative, accessible, and reliable approaches to improve rehabilitation assessment in children with CP.

The novelty of this study lies in the application of machine learning techniques to rehabilitation assessment of functional independence and mobility in children with cerebral palsy. Unlike traditional approaches that rely solely on isolated clinical interpretation, this study aims to integrate multiple clinical and functional parameters to identify predictive patterns associated with mobility and independence outcomes. The proposed approach introduces a data-driven and potentially more objective framework for rehabilitation assessment, supporting early identification of functional limitations and personalized intervention planning. Additionally, conducting this research in a low-resource context contributes further novelty by exploring the feasibility of implementing machine learning-based rehabilitation assessment tools in settings where advanced gait laboratories and expensive technologies are not readily available.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 4 to18 years
• Diagnosed any motor type of cerebral palsy (spastic, dyskinetic, ataxic, mixed),)
• GMFCS levels I -III (able to walk with or without an assistive device).
• All participants must be able to ambulate at least 10 meters with or without an assistive device.
• Capable of following simple verbal instructions.
• Parental informed consent and child assent

Exclusion criteria

• Recent orthopedic or neurosurgical interventions (<6 months).
• Uncontrolled seizures affecting gait.
• Non-ambulatory (GMFCS IV-V) or cognitive impairments preventing cooperation.