Does parent report measure performance? A study of the construct validity of the Functional Mobility Scale

Abstract

Aim: Parental report is often relied on to measure performance of activities in children with cerebral palsy (CP). This study examined whether the Functional Mobility Scale (FMS) accurately reflects performance of mobility in children with CP. Method: Eighteen children with spastic CP (11 males, seven females; mean age 12y 8mo, SD 2y 8mo, range 8-17y) were recruited from a special development school. Children were in Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels II (n=5), III (n=4), or IV (n=9), and had quadriplegia (n=9), diplegia (n=7), or hemiplegia (n=2). The children's mobility was observed directly around and outside the home and at school and their mobility methods were re..