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The Observational Gait Scale Can Help Determine the GMFCS Level in Children With Cerebral Palsy
Karina A Zapata1, Charter L Rushing, Mauricio R Delgado
1Scottish Rite for Children, Dallas, Texas.
Insights
The Observational Gait Scale (OGS) effectively correlates with the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Lower OGS scores indicate higher GMFCS levels, aiding in clinical assessment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Physical Therapy
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) affects motor function, with classification systems like the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) crucial for assessing severity.
- The Observational Gait Scale (OGS) is a clinical tool used to evaluate gait patterns in individuals with CP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the association between the Observational Gait Scale (OGS) and the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) in ambulatory children with CP.
- To assess the OGS's utility in complementing GMFCS level determination.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of 512 children diagnosed with CP across GMFCS levels I to IV.
- Analysis of initial visit OGS scores and corresponding GMFCS levels.
Main Results:
- A significant negative correlation was observed between OGS scores and GMFCS levels, indicating that as GMFCS level increased, OGS score decreased.
- Mean OGS scores varied significantly across GMFCS levels: Level I (13.1), Level II (11.3), Level III (7.7), and Level IV (6.1).
- Multivariate analysis confirmed the OGS-GMFCS association remained significant after adjusting for age and gender.
Conclusions:
- The Observational Gait Scale (OGS) serves as a valuable and rapid clinical instrument for assessing gait in children with CP.
- The OGS can assist clinicians in confirming or refining the GMFCS level of a child with cerebral palsy.
Purpose:
To evaluate the association between the Observational Gait Scale (OGS) and the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) in walking children with cerebral palsy (CP).
Methods:
The charts of 512 children with CP GMFCS levels I to IV were reviewed for the OGS score and GMFCS level at their initial visit.
Results:
The OGS score decreased with increasing GMFCS levels. The average OGS for GMFCS level I was 13.1 (2.8), level II was 11.3 (2.7), level III was 7.7 (2.7), and level IV was 6.1 (2.0). A significant negative relationship was seen between the OGS and the GMFCS. In particular, each GMFCS level was different across all levels in a pairwise comparison. In addition, multivariate modeling analysis confirmed that the association between the OGS and the GMFCS was still valid, after adjusting for age and gender.
Conclusions:
The OGS is a quick tool to rate gait and help confirm a child's GMFCS level.
