RELATION OF GAIT ANALYSES TO GROSS MOTOR FUNCTION IN CEREBRAL-PALSY

The Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) and computerized gait analysis are commonly used to assess patients with cerebral palsy (CP). The au thors investigated correlations between the GMFM and gait parameters i n 32 children aged 3 to 18 (mean 8.9) years with spastic CP. Of the ga it parameters, cadence and normalized velocity correlated most strongl y with the GMFM score, and hip and knee excursion and percentage singl e support also correlated directly with the GMFM. In a stepwise multip le regression, cadence alone was a significant predictor of GMFM score . Time and distance parameters, flip and knee excursion in the sagitta l plane and GMFM values all moved consistently further from pediatric norms as functional severity increased. The study confirms that gait i s representative of general motor status in CP and that the GMFM and g ait analysis are complementary measures in the functional assessment o f these children.