he Functional Mobility Scale (FMS) is a classification tool used to assess the mobility and walking ability of children with cerebral palsy (CP) across different distances in daily life. It helps determine the level of independence or need for assistive devices.
Key Features:
- Rates mobility at 3 distances:
- 5 meters (home environment)
- 50 meters (school/work environment)
- 500 meters (community mobility)
- Uses a scale from 1 to 6, where:
- 1 = Uses wheelchair full-time
- 6 = Walks independently on all surfaces
Accessing the FMS Protocol:
A detailed description and application guide for the FMS can be found on the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s Rehabilitation Measures Database: https://www.sralab.org/rehabilitation-measures/functional-mobility-scale
Pros of Using the FMS for Children:
- Comprehensive Assessment: The FMS evaluates mobility across multiple distances, reflecting a child’s functional abilities in various real-life settings, from home to community environments.
- Sensitivity to Change: Research indicates that the FMS is responsive to clinically significant changes in mobility status following interventions, making it a valuable tool for monitoring progress over time.
- User-Friendly: The scale is straightforward to administer and interpret, facilitating its integration into routine clinical practice without the need for specialized equipment.
Cons of Using the FMS for Children:
- Subjectivity: As with many observational tools, the FMS relies on clinical judgment, which may introduce variability between different assessors.
- Limited Age Range: The FMS is primarily validated for children aged 4 to 18 years with CP, limiting its applicability to other age groups or populations without cerebral palsy.
- Assistive Device Focus: While the FMS accounts for the use of assistive devices, it may not fully capture the qualitative aspects of gait or the child’s endurance and energy expenditure during mobility.
In summary, the Functional Mobility Scale is a valuable tool for assessing and monitoring mobility in children with cerebral palsy across various settings. However, clinicians should be aware of its subjective nature and the potential need for complementary assessments to obtain a comprehensive understanding of a child’s functional mobility.