Growth Charts
We strongly advise use of the new and revised growth charts:
Brooks J, Day SM, Shavelle RM, Strauss DJ (2011). Low weight, morbidity, and mortality
in children with cerebral palsy: New clinical growth charts. Pediatrics, 128; e299; originally published
online July 18, 2011 (DOI 10.1542/peds.2010-2801).Below are the charts for height, weight, and BMI for boys and girls with cerebral palsy, stratified by GMFCS, with level 5 additionally divided into those requiring a feeding tube (TF) and those not (NT).
All Charts
Boys: GMFCS 1 GMFCS 2 GMFCS 3 GMFCS 4 GMFCS 5 NT GMFCS 5 TF
Girls: GMFCS 1 GMFCS 2 GMFCS 3 GMFCS 4 GMFCS 5 NT GMFCS 5 TF
The broad definitions of GMFCS (gross motor function classification system) levels 1 to 5 are:
- Walks without limitations
- Walks with limitations
- Walks using a hand-held mobility device
- Self-mobility with limitations, may use powered mobility
- Transported in a manual wheelchair
The old charts were from a prior study:
Day SM, Strauss DJ, Vachon PJ, Rosenbloom L, Shavelle RM, Wu YW (2007).
Growth patterns in a population of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.
Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 49:167-171.Below are the older charts for height, weight, and BMI for boys and girls with cerebral palsy, stratified by 5 severity groups.
All Charts
Boys: Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5
Girls: Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5
Definitions of the 5 groups:
Group 1: Walks well alone at least 20 feet and balances well
Group 2: Walks with support or unsteadily alone at least 10 feet, but does not walk well alone at least 20 feet and balance well
Group 3: Crawls, creeps, or scoots; but does not walk
Group 4: Does not walk; does not crawl, creep, or scoot; does not feed self; is not fed by gastrostomy tube
Group 5: Does not walk; does not crawl, creep or scoot; does not feed self; is fed by gastrostomy tube