Basic gross motor assessment. Tool for use with children having minor motor dysfunction.

Children with minor motor problems are often referred for evaluation of these problems to physical therapists who work in educational environments. Measures that therapists use to assess seriously disabled children are often inappropriate for these children. The Basic Gross Motor Assessment was developed after analyzing research on minor motor dysfunction. Standard procedures were outlined and a sample of 1,260 randomly selected children aged 5 years 6 months to 12 years 5 months served for norming purposes. Validity and reliability studies were completed with an additional 285 subjects. The Basic Gross Motor Assessment is presented as a useful tool for evaluating minor motor problems in children and identifying those children who require further physical therapy assessment and perhaps direct treatment.