Evaluating the responsiveness of 2 versions of the gross motor function measure for children with cerebral palsy.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the responsiveness to motor change of the original version of Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88) and its second version (GMFM-66) in children with cerebral palsy (CP).


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Seven rehabilitation pediatric clinics.


METHODS
Sixty-five children with CP (age range, 0.5-9.4y; mean, 3.7+/-1.9y) were recruited.


METHODS
The children's motor ability was assessed twice with a mean interval of 3.5 months using all of the GMFM-88 items. A 3-category range of therapist judgments on the children's meaningful motor improvement was used as an external standard.


METHODS
GMFM-88 scores, GMFM-66 scores, and therapists' judgments.


RESULTS
Regarding the association with the therapist judgments, the overall responsiveness of GMFM-66 is superior to that of GMFM-88. Both measures' sensitivities of the responsiveness are similar, but GMFM-66 has better specificity.


CONCLUSIONS
To evaluate the motor change in a sample of children with CP over a mean interval of 3.5 months by using the 2 versions of GMFM, the GMFM-66 was more responsive than the GMFM-88 with respect to consistency with therapist clinically meaningful judgments.
Wang
Hui-Yi
HY
School of Physical Therapy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. hywang@cc.kmu.edu.tw
Yang
Yi Hsin
YH
D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D012372:ROC Curve; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D016896:Treatment Outcome