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Gross motor performance measure for children with cerebral palsy: study design and preliminary findings
W Boyce1, C Gowland, P Rosenbaum
1School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
Insights
The Gross Motor Performance Measure (GMPM) is a valid and reliable tool for assessing movement quality changes in children with cerebral palsy (CP). It accurately tracks improvements and is responsive to clinical changes over time.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Physical Therapy
- Motor Control and Development
- Clinical Assessment Tools
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) significantly impacts children's motor function and quality of movement.
- Existing measures may not fully capture subtle changes in motor performance.
- The Gross Motor Performance Measure (GMPM) was developed to address this gap.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the validity, reliability, and responsiveness of the Gross Motor Performance Measure (GMPM).
- To establish GMPM as a dependable observational instrument for children with cerebral palsy.
- To compare GMPM with the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM).
Main Methods:
- Assessed 107 children with CP, 18 with head injury, and 33 controls on two occasions (4-6 months apart).
- Employed the GMPM alongside the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM).
- Evaluated validity via independent parent/therapist ratings and 'masked' therapist video assessments; reliability through inter-rater, intra-rater, and test-retest studies; responsiveness via importance ratings of observed changes.
Main Results:
- Hypotheses formulated for correlations between GMPM changes, GMFM scores, age, diagnosis, severity, and evaluator judgments.
- Reliability data presented using intra-class correlation coefficients.
- Responsiveness data analyzed using ANOVA for 'stable' and 'responsive' groups.
Conclusions:
- The study provides comprehensive data on the GMPM's psychometric properties.
- GMPM demonstrates potential as a valid, reliable, and responsive measure for children with CP.
- Findings support GMPM's utility in clinical practice and research for tracking motor development.
Abstract:
This project investigated the validity, reliability and responsiveness of the Gross Motor Performance Measure (GMPM). The GMPM was developed as an observational instrument to measure changes in quality of movement in children with cerebral palsy. Physical therapists from 3 children's treatment centres assessed 107 children with CP, 18 children with head injury and 33 non-disabled children. Assessments were conducted on 2 occasions, 4 to 6 months apart. The measurement protocol included assessment with the GMPM and the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM). Validity was tested by comparing changes in GMPM scores to parent and therapist independent ratings of the children's motor performance. Also, a sample (n = 30) of paired assessments was videotaped for 'masked' evaluation by therapists. Inter-rater, intra-rater and test-retest reliability studies (n = 30) were conducted. Responsiveness to change was determined through parent and therapist ratings of the importance of observed changes in quality of movement. Data collection for this study has just been completed. Validation hypotheses have been postulated regarding correlations between changes in GMPM scores; GMFM scores; age of children; diagnosis; severity of condition; parent, therapist and 'masked' evaluator judgement of change. Correlation analysis, t-test and analysis of variance results will be presented. Reliability data for the GMPM and parent/therapist rating scales will be presented using intra-class correlation coefficients. Data supporting responsiveness of the GMPM will be presented using an analysis of variance model for 'stable' and 'responsive' groups.