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Using Decision Trees to Support Classifiers’ Decision-Making about Activity Limitation of Cerebral Palsy Footballers

Author

Listed:
  • José M. Sarabia

    (Sport Research Centre, Department of Sports Sciences, Miguel Hernández University, 03202 Elche, Spain
    Alicante Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL Foundation), 03010 Alicante, Spain)

  • Alba Roldan

    (Sport Research Centre, Department of Sports Sciences, Miguel Hernández University, 03202 Elche, Spain)

  • Matías Henríquez

    (Sport Research Centre, Department of Sports Sciences, Miguel Hernández University, 03202 Elche, Spain)

  • Raul Reina

    (Sport Research Centre, Department of Sports Sciences, Miguel Hernández University, 03202 Elche, Spain)

Abstract

This study aimed (1) to determine the appropriateness of using decision trees as a classification tool for determining the allocation of sport classes of para-footballers with “moderate vs. mild” cerebral palsy (CP) profiles of spastic diplegia/hemiplegia and ataxia/athetosis based on observational outcomes by international classifiers, and (2) to identify what key observational features were relevant to discriminating among different impairment levels. A sample of 16 experienced international classifiers from five world regions participated in this study, observing activity limitation of a final sample of 21 international CP footballers when performing 16 gross-motor and sports-specific tests for balance ( n = 3), coordination ( n = 5), running, accelerations and decelerations ( n = 3), jumping ( n = 4), and change of direction ability ( n = 1). For the overall sample (336 observations), the model included eight decision nodes and 24 branches with 17 leaves, including side-step, side-stepping, and triple hop as the tests with the best sensitivity (precision = 67.0%). For those with spastic diplegia (64 observations: Two nodes, six branches with five leaves), the range of motion in the side-step test and the balance in the tandem walk tests correctly classified 89.1% of the observations. In those with athetosis and ataxia (96 observations), the model included five nodes, 15 branches, and 11 leaves (176 observations, precision = 86.5%). For those with spastic hemiplegia, a model containing two nodes, six branches, and five leaves had 90.9% accuracy, including observational features of balance in the side-step test and symmetry in the side-stepping test. The observational tool used in this study, based on the impact of specific impairment measurements of hypertonia, athetosis, and ataxia, can be used to determine which assessments are more appropriate for discriminating between functional profiles in para-footballers with CP.

Suggested Citation

  • José M. Sarabia & Alba Roldan & Matías Henríquez & Raul Reina, 2021. "Using Decision Trees to Support Classifiers’ Decision-Making about Activity Limitation of Cerebral Palsy Footballers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-18, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:8:p:4320-:d:539185
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alba Roldan & José M. Sarabia & Guillermo Gómez-Marcos & Raul Reina, 2020. "An Observational Tool to Assess Activity Limitation in Ambulatory People with Cerebral Palsy When Performing Motor Skills," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-10, March.
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