GMFM update 2016
Updated Information:
GMFM user’s manual, 2nd edition from Wiley Publishing Co. is $123 USD for a spiral bound paperback copy.
The examiner will need a computer program entitled “Gross Motor Ability Estimator (GMAE) in order to calculate the interval level total score for the new version GMFM-66.
Article Summary:
The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) scores for patients with bilateral spastic Cerebral palsy (CP) receiving various rehabilitation treatments. A retrospective chart review was performed for 44 children receiving physical therapy treatment from January 2011-January 2014. Participants were divided into an intensive rehab (inpatient) group of 24 patients and an intermittent rehab (outpatient) group of 20 patients. The inpatient group received 11, 30 minute sessions of PT and OT each per week for 4 weeks. The outpatient group received 2 sessions of PT and OT each per week for 12 weeks. GMFM scores were determined at baseline and follow up of 4 and 12 weeks for inpatient and outpatient respectively. When comparing both groups at one month, significant increases in GMFM scores were present for both, however there was a larger improvement in scores for the inpatient rehabilitation group. The study also found that the greatest improvements were in patients of younger age, with higher baseline GMFCS scores meaning they were already performing at a higher functional capacity than others prior to treatment. Some limitations of this study included the retrospective design as opposed to a prospective intervention and the fact that the outcome assessment was perform at the one month mark for both groups even though the outpatient group continued treatment for another 8 weeks. This study could be continued including various types of CP, a larger sample size, or patients of particular age groups. The study does a good job discussing the importance of early intervention in patients with CP, as these patients tend to reach peak gross motor function at an earlier age than typically developing children. An intense therapy program could help to maximize physical gains in patients with CP.
Lee SH, Shim JS, Kim K, Moon J, Kim M. Gross Motor Function Outcome After Intensive Rehabilitation in Children With Bilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy. Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2015;39(4):624-629. doi:10.5535/arm.2015.39.4.624.
2 responses to “GMFM update 2016”
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The GMFM seems like an inexpensive test that is valid and reliable. It seems like it could give health care practitioners valuable information that is clinically relevant. Also, this seems to be a test and measure that can easily be used in research studies for children with CP. The research article I found for my outcome measure cited the GMFM. If you work in pediatrics, I feel it is important to be familiar with the GMFM as it is often used for children with CP. In the research study cited above, was the only time they compared both groups at the one month mark? What was the criteria for those who received inpatient treatment vs. outpatient treatment? Also, I was not surprised that the patients of younger age and higher baseline scores had greater improvements. Unfortunately, I feel that happens with most diagnoses.
This test/measure seems to be a great tool based on what we have learned in class and the data on the blog post as well as in this article. For the amount of patients that this assessment can be used on, I feel that the price is reasonable and I like that there does not need to be a ton of equipment. The results the authors found makes a lot of sense, in that an intense rehab program would constitute the greatest results compared to a moderate program. I would like to know what the results would look like after a 6 month follow-up period to see if the inpatient and outpatient groups became more equal with time or if the results were maintained.