More recently, several prospective longitudinal studies have
been reported. The Ontario Motor Growth Study5 mapped
motor development in children with CP using the using the
Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM)6,7 and the Gross
Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS).8 The resultant
prognostic curves have been widely utilized by clinicians
and researchers. A continuation of this study is currently in
progress.9 Another study employed cross-sectional and longitudinal
analyses to construct population-based gross motor
developmental curves for children aged up to 15 years with
hemiplegia and diplegia.10 Furthermore, prospective longitudinal
work from the Shriners Group of Hospitals11 and from
the Paediatric Rehabilitation in the Netherlands programme
(PERRIN)12,13 is contributing to a more comprehensive
picture of the young person with CP.