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GMFM in infancy: age-specific limitations and adaptations

Tjitske Hielkema1, Elisa G Hamer, Ilse Ebbers-Dekkers

  • 1Departments of Paediatrics-Developmental Neurology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.

Pediatric Physical Therapy : the Official Publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy Association
|April 2, 2013
PubMed

Insights

The Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) has limitations for infants under 2 years old. Adaptations are proposed to improve its use in tracking motor development in high-risk infants.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric rehabilitation
  • Motor development assessment
  • Cerebral palsy research

Background:

  • The Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) is a standard tool for assessing motor function in children with cerebral palsy.
  • Its applicability in infants younger than 2 years requires evaluation for longitudinal tracking of motor development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the longitudinal applicability of the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) in infants under 2 years of age.
  • To identify limitations of the GMFM in this age group and propose adaptations.

Main Methods:

  • Twelve high-risk infants for cerebral palsy were enrolled between 1 and 9 months corrected age.
  • Infants underwent four assessments over one year using the GMFM-66, GMFM-88, and other neuromotor tests.

Main Results:

  • Longitudinal GMFM use in infancy was limited by age and function-specific factors.
  • The GMFM-66 showed less differentiation at lower motor ability levels.
  • The GMFM-88 exhibited curve flattening as motor abilities increased, necessitating adaptations.

Conclusions:

  • An adapted version of the GMFM may enhance its utility for infants.
  • Further research is needed to validate proposed adaptations, focusing on reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change.
Abstract

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