Correlation between the gross motor function measure scores and gait spatiotemporal measures in children with neurological impairments.

Twenty six children with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy and four with a diagnosis of head injury, aged between 1 and 8 years, participated in this study, undertaken to determine the relation between spatiotemporal measures (STM) of gait (velocity, cadence, stride length, and cycle duration) and the results of a standardized clinical test of motor function. STM were assessed by a clinical videographic gait test (VGT) whereas the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) was used to assess motor function. For the total group of children, significant linear relations (r = 0.91, r = 0.93; p < 0.0001) were obtained between gait velocity and the GMFM sections D and E which include gait-related activities. These indicate that velocity is a parameter capable of reflecting functional locomotor behavior of these children. The results suggest that GMFM sections D and E may be used as locomotor predictors. The effect of walking with or without support was also investigated. The correlation between gait velocity and the GMFM(E) score was higher (r = 0.69) in the group of children walking with support than in those walking without (r = 0.35). The first group were younger and walked at velocities under 45 cm/s whereas children walking without support were older and walked at velocities ranging from 55 to 110 cm/s. These results suggest that the GMFM(E) score becomes less discriminant at gait velocities above 45 cm/s.