Stability of the gross motor function classification system in children with cerebral palsy for two years

Eun-Young Park

doi:10.1186/s12883-020-01721-4

Abstract

BackgroundThe prognosis of gross motor function is a major concern for therapy and intervention in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The classification system for gross motor function, the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), is actively studied because it could be useful in the communication between professionals and families. This study aimed to verify the stability of GMFCS over 2 years in children with CP aged 2–12 years.MethodsThe GMFCS level of 100 children with CP who underwent rehabilitation therapy in hospitals or who attended special elementary schools in South Korea were collected in the study. The agreements across three measurement points were analyzed in these children.ResultsThe weighted kappa coefficients were statistically significant (p < .05). The coefficients ranged from 0.690 to 0.789 in children with CP aged 2–12 years. The lowest coefficient of 0.557 was observed in children with CP aged 2–4 years between the first and third measurements points.ConclusionsThe results provided evidence of GMFCS stability for the first year and change of the GMFCS during the two-year study period in children aged 2–4 years. Moreover, the findings indicate that the stability of GMFCS varies with time, duration, and age. It is recommended that GMFCS assessments be performed periodically, which are even more necessary for children with CP aged 2–4 years.

Highlights

The prognosis of gross motor function is a major concern for therapy and intervention in children with cerebral palsy (CP)
The Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level in 67 children with CP remained the same, whereas it changed in 33 children with CP between the second and third measurement time
This study shows evidence that the stability ratio of the GMFCS was high and that the change ratio existed in children with CP aged between 2 and 12 years

Summary

Introduction

The prognosis of gross motor function is a major concern for therapy and intervention in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The classification system for gross motor function, the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), is actively studied because it could be useful in the communication between professionals and families. The Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) is a five-level evidence-based tool that measures the gross motor function of children with cerebral palsy (CP). The GMFCS level that is determined does not depend on what is known to be routinely possible at home, school, or in the community settings; that is, it is rather an indication of what they can do better than. Park BMC Neurology (2020) 20:172 life; the GMFCS could provide this information, and it was used in the clinical setting for communication between specialists and other persons [2]. The classification system is meant to classify and categorize rather than to evaluate [2]

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