Development of the Gross Motor Function Classification System for cerebral palsy

2008/03/03 by Peter Rosenbaum, Peter L Rosenbaum, Robert J. Palisano +6 · 602 citations
Medicine · Neuroscience · Psychology · #Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorders #Cerebral palsy #Developmental psychology #Family and Disability Support Research #Function (biology) #Gross Motor Function Classification System #Gross motor skill #Infant Development and Preterm Care #Medicine #Motor function #Motor skill #Motor system #Neuroscience #Physical medicine and rehabilitation #Physical therapy #Psychology

paper · doi:10.1111/j.1469-8749.2008.02045.x

published in Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology 50(4), 249-253 (Wiley)

openalex publication_date 2008/03/03 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

The Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) for cerebral palsy has been widely used internationally for clinical, research, and administrative purposes. This paper recounts the ideas and work behind the creation of the GMFCS, reports on the lessons learned, and identifies some philosophical challenges inherent in trying to develop an ordered, valid, and consistent system to describe function in children and adolescents with developmental differences. It is hoped that these ideas will be useful to others who choose to expand the field with additional systems in other areas of childhood neurodisability.

Citations

• Development and reliability of a system to classify gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy
• Content validity of the expanded and revised Gross Motor Function Classification System
• THE GROSS MOTOR FUNCTION MEASURE: A MEANS TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTS OF PHYSICAL THERAPY
• The Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) for children with cerebral palsy: scale development and evidence of validity and reliability

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Related

• Development and reliability of a system to classify gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy
• Content validity of the expanded and revised Gross Motor Function Classification System
• The Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) for children with cerebral palsy: scale development and evidence of validity and reliability
• Application of the Gross Motor Function Measure in children with conditions other than cerebral palsy: A systematic review
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