Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 88, Issue 7 , Pages 871-876, July 2007

Prospective Longitudinal Study of Gross Motor Function in Children With Cerebral Palsy

  • Jeanine M. Voorman, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    • EMGO Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests to Jeanine M. Voorman, MD, Dept of Rehabilitation Medicine, VU University Medical Center, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Annet J. Dallmeijer, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    • EMGO Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Dirk L. Knol, PhD

      Affiliations

    • EMGO Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    • Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
    • ,
  • Gustaaf J. Lankhorst, PhD, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    • EMGO Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Jules G. Becher, PhD, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    • EMGO Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Abstract 

Voorman JM, Dallmeijer AJ, Knol DL, Lankhorst GJ, Becher JG. Prospective longitudinal study of gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy.

Objectives

To describe the course of gross motor function over 2 years in children with cerebral palsy (CP) aged 9 to 15 years, and to investigate its relationship with impairments and age.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Rehabilitation department of a university medical center in the Netherlands.

Participants

Seventy boys and 40 girls with CP (mean age ± standard deviation, 11.2±1.7y).

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measure

The Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM).

Results

GMFM item scores were stable over the 2 years for the whole group. No difference was found in the course of GMFM item scores between the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels. We found significant differences in the course of GMFM item scores (corrected for GMFCS) for the different levels of limb distribution, selective motor control, muscle strength, range of motion in the hip and knee, spasticity of the hamstrings, and type of education. There were significantly larger decreases in the more severely affected children. Multivariable analysis showed that a poor selective motor control was the most important determinant of a less favorable course of gross motor function.

Conclusions

Some impairment characteristics may be used to identify children who are at risk for deterioration in gross motor function, and may serve as a guide for interventions.

Key Words: Cerebral palsy, Disabled children, Motor skills, Rehabilitation

 

 Supported by the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (grant no. 1435.0011).No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the author(s) or upon any organization with which the author(s) is/are associated.

PII: S0003-9993(07)00290-0

doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2007.04.002

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 88, Issue 7 , Pages 871-876, July 2007

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