Evaluation and application of the General Motor Function assessment scale in geriatric rehabilitation

Abstract

Purpose: To test General Motor Function assessment scale (GMF) for concurrent validity, to analyse the distribution of scores and its clinical sensitivity in a setting of geriatric rehabilitation.

Method: A descriptive and comparative study involving comparisons between GMF and Katz Index of ADL, analyses of GMF scores concerning distribution and comparisons between three geriatric care levels and between assessments pre- and post-intervention. One group of 20 in-patients and one group of 154 patients in three different care forms - institutional care, home rehabilitation and day care were included. Non parametric statistics were utilized, including a method which can separately measure the level of change for the group and for the individuals in that group.

Results: High correlation with r(s) = 0.80 (p < 0.001) between the subscale Dependence and the Katz Index of ADL verified that this part of the GMF measures variables related to ability in ADL. No floor effects in any of the subscales of the GMF were shown. The GMF was found to be sufficiently sensitive to demonstrate change from pre- and post-intervention assessments.

Conclusion: This study indicates that GMF could be useful as a satisfactorily valid and sensitive tool for physiotherapists' standardized assessments in geriatric practice.