The Quality Function Measure (QFM), also frequently called the Quality FM, is an advanced clinical and research assessment tool used by physical therapists to evaluate the quality of gross motor movement over time. It is specifically designed as a companion to the widely used Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66).
While the standard GMFM looks purely at quantity (whether a child can complete a physical task, like standing or walking), the QFM acts like a “microscope” to measure quality (how well they execute those actions). Core Attributes Measured
The QFM analyzes standing, walking, running, and jumping skills across five distinct qualitative attributes:
Alignment: Posture and structural symmetry of the body during movement.
Coordination: Smoothness, fluid timing, and control of the motor activity.
Dissociated Movement: The ability to isolate and move specific joints or body parts independently.
Stability: Postural balance, trunk control, and overall steadiness.
Weight-shift: The control and fluidity of shifting body mass from one limb or position to another. Target Population The instrument is heavily validated and targeted toward:
Children and youth with Cerebral Palsy (CP): Usually aged 5 years and up.
Ambulatory individuals: Those categorized in GMFCS Levels I, II, or III who can walk independently or with mobility devices and can follow verbal instructions.
Hyperkinetic Movement Disorders (HMD): Emerging research shows it is also highly reliable for children presenting with involuntary movements like dystonia or chorea. How Scoring Works
Video-Based Analysis: Children are video-recorded from specific standardized camera angles while performing GMFM tasks.
Attribute Mapping: For each gross motor activity, the three most relevant quality attributes out of the five are evaluated.
4-Point Scale: Each attribute is scored from 0 (markedly atypical/severe difficulty) to 3 (typical movement/no difficulty).
No Single Total Score: Rather than blending everything into one metric, each of the five attributes receives its own isolated final percentage score. This pinpoints exact areas of structural strengths and challenges. Practical Implementation & Limits
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