Development and validation of a severity classification system for cerebral palsy

Investigators & Staff

• P Rosenbaum
• R Palisano
• S Walter
• D Russell

Funding Agency National Health Research & Development Program - $24,780 (1994-1995)
Easter Seal Research Institute - $5,000 (1994-1995)

Summary

The purpose of this study was to develop a standardized system to classify the gross motor function of children with cerebral palsy. It resulted in the development of the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), a five-level classification system analogous to the staging and grading systems used in Medicine.

Nominal group process and Delphi survey consensus methods were used to examine content validity and revise the classification system until consensus among 48 experts (physical therapists, occupational therapists and developmental pediatricians with expertise in cerebral palsy) was achieved. Interrater reliability (kappa) was 0.55 for children less than 2 years of age and 0.75 for children from 2-12 years of age.

For more details on this topic, refer to: Palisano, R., Rosenbaum, P., Walter, S., Russell, D., Wood, E., & Galuppi, B. (1997). Development and validation of a gross motor function classification system for children with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 39, 214-223.

Impact

• The GMFCS offers a standardized method to classify the gross motor function of children with CP.
• The GMFCS is useful in clinical practice, research, teaching, and administration.