Gross Motor Function Classification System

The Gross motor function classification system (GMFCS) for children with cerebral palsy is a 5-level system. The main criteria is sitting (truncal control) and walking.

The system has been developed in 1997 at the CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research of the McMaster Univeristy by Robert Palisano, now Professor of Physiotherapy at Drexel University, Peter Rosenbaum, a Developmental Paediatrician, Professor of Paediatrics at McMaster's, Stephen Walter, Professor of Biostatistics at McMaster's, Dianne Russell, Ellen Wood and Barbara Galuppi.

The system is now widely used both in the Americas and western Europe. To assess their mobility and make a prediction for their future ambulatory ability, children are examined using Gross motor function measure (GMFM), a set of 66 exercises that help the specialist classify the child into one of the five levels.