Examples References
a) A child who walks independently 1) Graham H.K., Harvey A., Rodda J.,
at home on all surfaces but uses Nattrass G.R., Pirpiris M. (2004).
crutches in the school playground and The Functional Mobility Scale (FMS).
a wheelchair for long family walks or JPO 24(5): 514 520.
school outings would be scored as:
2) Palisano R.J., Tieman B.L., Walter S.D.,
6 3 1 Bartlett D.J., Rosenbaum P.L., Russell D.,
Hanna S.E. (2003). Effect of environ-
b) A child who uses crutches indoors FMS
mental setting on mobility methods
at home, a walker in the playground
of children with cerebral palsy.
at school and a wheelchair to go
Dev. Med. Child Neurol. 45: 113 120.
The Functional Mobility Scale
to the shopping centre would be
(version 2)
scored as:
For further information or more
3 2 1
For children with cerebral palsy
copies please contact:
aged 4 18 years
Hugh Williamson Gait Laboratory
c) A child who walks independently on
The Royal Children s Hospital
all surfaces at home including steps
Flemington Road
without a rail but at school and for
Parkville, 3052
longer distances tend to lose balance
Melbourne, Australia
on uneven ground or in crowds would
be scored as:
email: [e-mail]
6 5 5
phone: [phone]
d) A child who uses a walker at home
www.rch.org.au/gait
and in physiotherapy but in all other
settings uses a wheelchair would be
scored as:
2 1 1
e) A child who walks independently
without assistive devices at home on
level ground only and uses two single
point sticks at school in the classroom
© The Royal Children s Hospital, Melbourne 2004
and the playground and a walker for
longer distances would be scored as: ERC: 061076
Developed by the
Hugh Williamson Gait Laboratory
5 4 2
The Royal Children s Hospital
Melbourne, Australia
Part of the Gait CCRE
www.rch.org.au/gait
Introduction Questions
Rating Rating
The Functional Mobility Scale (FMS) has To obtain answers that reflect perform-
6 3
been constructed to classify functional ance, the manner in which the questions
mobility in children, taking into account are asked of the child/parent is impor-
the range of assistive devices a child Independent on all surfaces: Uses crutches: tant. The questions we use to obtain
might use. the appropriate responses are:
Does not use any walking aids Without help from another person.
The scale can be used to classify children s or need any help from another 1. How does your child move around
functional mobility, document change person when walking over all for short distances in the house? (5m)
surfaces including uneven ground,
over time in the same child and to
2. How does your child move around
curbs etc. and in a crowded
document change seen following
in and between classes at school? (50m)
environment.
interventions, for example orthopaedic
surgery or selective dorsal rhizotomy.
3. How does your child move around
Rating Rating
The FMS rates walking ability at for long distances such as at the
three specific distances, 5, 50 and 500 shopping centre? (500m)
5 2
metres, (or 5, 50, 500 yards). This repre-
The distances are a guide. It is the
sents the child s mobility in the home,
environment that is most relevant.
Independent on level surfaces: Uses a walker or frame:
at school and in the community setting.
It therefore accounts for different
Does not use walking aids or need help from Without help from another person.
Qualifiers
assistive devices used by the same child
another person.* Requires a rail for stairs.
in different environments.
The difference between 1 4 is self-
*If uses furniture, walls, fences, shop fronts for support,
please use 4 as the appropriate description.
Assessment is by the clinician on the basis explanatory, however the difference
of questions asked of the child/parent between 5 and 6 is less clear.
(not direct observation). The walking
5 metres: children who require a rail for
Rating Rating
ability of the child is rated at each of the
stairs would be rated as 5 and children
three distances according to the need
4 1 who do not require a rail or help would
for assistive devices such as crutches,
be rated as 6.
walkers or wheelchair. Orthotics which
50 metres: children who can walk on all
Uses sticks (one or two): Uses wheelchair:
are regularly used should be included
surfaces including uneven surfaces and
Without help from another person. May stand for transfers, may
for the rating.
steps, particularly at school are rated as
do some stepping supported by
The FMS is a performance measure.
6 and children that require help on these
another person or using a
It is important to rate what the child
surfaces but can walk on level surfaces
walker/frame.
actually does at this point in time,
without help are rated as 5.
not what they can do or used to
500 metres: children who can walk
be able to do.
Rating Crawling:
on all surfaces including rough ground,
Rating: select the number
curbs, steps and in crowded environ-
Child crawls for mobility at home (5m).
Walking distance (from 1 6) which best
C
ments in the community without help
describes current function
are rated as 6 and children who walk
long distances only on level surfaces
5 metres (yards)
and have difficulty walking in crowds
Rating N = does not apply:
are rated as 5.
50 metres (yards)
Developed by the Hugh Williamson Gait Laboratory, For example child does not complete
N
The Royal Children s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
the distance (500 m).
Part of the Gait CCRE.
500 metres (yards)
www.rch.org.au/gait