At what age range is the Gross Motor Function Measure best administered?

The Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) is specifically designed to assess the gross motor function of children with cerebral palsy and other motor disorders. The tool is most effective for children between the ages of 1 to 5 years, as it captures the developmental milestones and gross motor skills that are most relevant during this critical period of growth. Children in this age range are typically at a stage where they are transitioning from crawling to walking and are developing basic locomotor skills, making the GMFM an essential assessment tool for evaluating their motor abilities and planning interventions.

In younger children, such as those aged 0-3 years, the developmental variations may be too broad, making it less reliable for detecting subtle differences in motor skills. The upper age ranges, such as 3-7 and 5-10 years, focus on skills that have typically been acquired and may not reflect the differences in motor functions that the GMFM is designed to measure. Thus, the 1-5 year age range is optimal for using the GMFM to assess and guide the treatment of children with gross motor function concerns.