Functional Improvement after the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88) Item-Based Training in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate applicability of the GMFM-88 in planning intervention for CP children.Specifically, this study assessed functional improvement after a four-week GMFM-88 item-based training in CP children divided into three age groups (≤ 24 months, 25-48 months, and > 48 months) and five levels of the gross motor function classification system (GMFCS).Methods: Subjects were 264 children with CP (mean age 32.90 months) recruited from one CP clinic.The GMFM-88 item-based training was planned for each child, after an interview with its caregiver.To investigate functional improvement after the intervention, minimum important difference (MID) and MID proportion for the change in scores of GMFM-88 were calculated.Results: The GMFM-88 scores increased after the interventions in all three age groups (p< 0.05).In particular, children with CP aged ≤ 24 months and at the GMFCS level II showed greater functional improvement after training.Conclusion: This study found that the GMFM-88 item-based training would be used to plan activity-oriented intervention both in clinic and home in each CP child.