Assessment Tools for Pediatric Motor Skills and Function

Movement Assessment Battery for Children - 2nd Edition (MABC-2)

Assesses manual dexterity, aiming & catching, and balance in children. It is the most widely used and recommended motor test to assist in the diagnosis of DCD.

Age Range for MABC-2

3-16 years.

Common Diagnoses for MABC-2

DCD, ADHD, Learning Disabilities. It is norm referenced, reliable, and valid for identifying children with DCD.

Potential Settings for MABC-2

Outpatient, School-based (relevant for learning disabilities).

PDMS-2 (Peabody Developmental Motor Scales - Second Edition)

Measures both fine and gross motor skills.

Age Range for PDMS-2

Birth-5 years.

Common Diagnoses for PDMS-2

Developmental delay, CP, Down Syndrome.

Potential Settings for PDMS-2

Early Intervention, Outpatient.

BOT-2 (Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency)

Assesses motor proficiency in fine and gross motor tasks.

Age Range for BOT-2

4-21 years.

Common Diagnoses for BOT-2

DCD, ASD, CP. It can be used for other conditions as well.

Potential Settings for BOT-2

Outpatient, School-based.

Muscle Function Scale

Evaluates lateral neck flexor strength.

Age Range for Muscle Function Scale

Infants.

Common Diagnoses for Muscle Function Scale

Torticollis.

Potential Settings for Muscle Function Scale

NICU, Early Intervention, Outpatient.

Manual Muscle Testing

Assesses muscle strength through manual resistance. Can also be done through functional strength testing and hand-held dynamometry.

Age Range for Manual Muscle Testing

Children to adults. For infants, a 5-point scale can be used to observe movements and get a baseline.

Common Diagnoses for Manual Muscle Testing

Neuromuscular, orthopedic conditions. For individuals with myelomeningocele, it can indicate levels of functioning and expected functional mobility, and monitor change over time, such as for tethered cord syndrome.

Potential Settings for Manual Muscle Testing

All settings (NICU, Early Intervention, School-based, Rehabilitation).

Handheld Dynamometry

Quantifies muscle strength.

Age Range for Handheld Dynamometry

5+ years. Requires individuals to understand and follow directions.

Common Diagnoses for Handheld Dynamometry

DMD, neuromuscular weakness. Also used for myelomeningocele.

Potential Settings for Handheld Dynamometry

All settings except possibly NICU (given age range requirement).

Goniometry

Measures joint range of motion.

Age Range for Goniometry

All ages.

Common Diagnoses for Goniometry

Orthopedic, CP. Also used for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) to assess range of motion, torticollis (cervical range of motion), and myelomeningocele.

Potential Settings for Goniometry

All settings (NICU, Early Intervention, School-based, Rehabilitation).

Pulmonary Function Testing

Measures respiratory function.

Age Range for Pulmonary Function Testing

Children to adults.

Common Diagnoses for Pulmonary Function Testing

SMA, DMD. Important for respiratory insufficiency in SMA and DMD.

Potential Settings for Pulmonary Function Testing

Rehabilitation (Outpatient, Inpatient).

TIMP (Test of Infant Motor Performance)

Assesses functional motor behavior in infants. It is criterion-referenced and predictive of future motor performance.

Age Range for TIMP

34 weeks GA to 4 months. From 30 weeks post-conception to four months old.

Common Diagnoses for TIMP

Prematurity, neuromotor issues. Also used for Down Syndrome and Torticollis.

Potential Settings for TIMP

NICU, Early Intervention.

AIMS (Alberta Infant Motor Scale)

Observational assessment of infant motor development.

AIMS (Alberta Infant Motor Scale) Age Range

0-18 months.

AIMS (Alberta Infant Motor Scale) Common Diagnoses

Prematurity, motor delay. Also used for Torticollis and myelomeningocele (as a norm-referenced developmental skills tool).

AIMS (Alberta Infant Motor Scale) Potential Settings

NICU, Early Intervention.

Functional Gait Assessment

Evaluates balance during various walking tasks.

Functional Gait Assessment Age Range

Children to adults.

Functional Gait Assessment Common Diagnoses

Vestibular disorders, CP.

Functional Gait Assessment Potential Settings

Rehabilitation (Outpatient, Inpatient), School-based (for older children accessing school environment).

Dynamic Gait Index

Assesses dynamic balance during gait.

Dynamic Gait Index Age Range

Children to older adults.

Dynamic Gait Index Common Diagnoses

Balance impairment. Also used for DCD and CP (as a gait measure).

Dynamic Gait Index Potential Settings

Rehabilitation (Outpatient, Inpatient), School-based (for older children accessing school environment).

Timed Up and Go (TUG)

Tests functional mobility.

Timed Up and Go (TUG) Age Range

3+ years.

Timed Up and Go (TUG) Common Diagnoses

CP, DMD. Also used for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Timed Up and Go (TUG) Potential Settings

Rehabilitation (Outpatient, Inpatient), School-based.

Timed 10m Walk

Measures walking speed over 10 meters.

Timed 10m Walk Age Range

Children to adults.

Timed 10m Walk Common Diagnoses

Neurologic, orthopedic conditions. Used in DMD management.

Timed 10m Walk Potential Settings

Rehabilitation (Outpatient, Inpatient), School-based.

GMFM (Gross Motor Function Measure)

Measures changes in gross motor function.

GMFM (Gross Motor Function Measure) Age Range

5 months-16 years.

GMFM (Gross Motor Function Measure) Common Diagnoses

CP, Down Syndrome.

GMFM (Gross Motor Function Measure) Potential Settings

Early Intervention, Outpatient, School-based, Rehabilitation.

TGMD (Test of Gross Motor Development - Second Edition)

Assesses locomotor and object control skills.

TGMD (Test of Gross Motor Development - Second Edition) Age Range

3-10 years.

TGMD (Test of Gross Motor Development - Second Edition) Common Diagnoses

DCD, ASD.

TGMD (Test of Gross Motor Development - Second Edition) Potential Settings

Early Intervention, Outpatient, School-based.

Motor Function Measure

Quantifies motor function in neuromuscular disorders.

Motor Function Measure Age Range

Children to adults.

Motor Function Measure Common Diagnoses

SMA, DMD.

Motor Function Measure Potential Settings

Rehabilitation (Outpatient, Inpatient).

Expanded Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale

Evaluates motor skills in individuals with SMA.

Expanded Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale Age Range

Children with SMA.

Expanded Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale Common Diagnoses

Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

Expanded Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale Potential Settings

Rehabilitation (Outpatient, Inpatient).

North Star Ambulatory Assessment

Measures functional motor abilities in ambulatory children with DMD.

North Star Ambulatory Assessment Age Range

4 years and older.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Common diagnosis related to muscular dystrophy.

Revised Upper Limb Module

Evaluates upper limb function in non-ambulatory individuals.

Age Range for Revised Upper Limb Module

5 years and older.

Common Diagnoses for Revised Upper Limb Module

DMD. Listed for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Potential Settings for Revised Upper Limb Module

Rehabilitation (Outpatient, Inpatient).

Preschool Play Scale

Measures play behavior in young children.

Age Range for Preschool Play Scale

Preschool-aged.

Common Diagnoses for Preschool Play Scale

ASD, developmental delay. Also listed for CP.

Potential Settings for Preschool Play Scale

Early Intervention, Outpatient, School-based (Preschool).

WeeFIM (Functional Independence Measure for Children)

Assesses functional independence in children.

Age Range for WeeFIM

6 months-7 years.

Common Diagnoses for WeeFIM

Neurodevelopmental disorders. Also listed for CP and myelomeningocele.

Potential Settings for WeeFIM

Early Intervention, Outpatient, School-based, Rehabilitation.

PEDI (Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory)

Measures functional capabilities and performance.

Age Range for PEDI

6 months-7.5 years.

Common Diagnoses for PEDI

CP, DS, motor delay. Also listed for Down Syndrome and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Potential Settings for PEDI

Early Intervention, Outpatient, School-based, Rehabilitation.

Little DCDQ (Little Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire)

Parent-report on motor coordination in preschoolers.

Age Range for Little DCDQ

3-5 years.

Common Diagnoses for Little DCDQ

DCD.

Potential Settings for Little DCDQ

Early Intervention, Outpatient, School-based (Preschool).

DCDQ (Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire)

Screening for coordination disorder.

Age Range for DCDQ

5-15 years.

Common Diagnoses for DCDQ

DCD. Used to identify children for potential DCD concerns.

Potential Settings for DCDQ

Outpatient, School-based.

School Function Assessment

Assesses performance of school-related tasks.