The Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) has been developed to classify how children with cerebral palsy (CP) use their hands when handling objects in daily activities. The classification is designed to reflect the child's typical manual performance, not the child's maximal capacity. It classifies the collaborative use of both hands together. Validation was based on the experience within an expert group, a review of the literature, and thorough analysis of children across a spectrum of function. Discussions continued until consensus was reached, first about the constructs, then about the content of the five levels. Parents and therapists were interviewed about the content and the description of levels. Reliability was tested between pairs of therapists for 168 children (70 females, 98 males; with hemiplegia [n=52], diplegia [n=70], tetraplegia [n=19], ataxia [n=6], dyskinesia [n=19], and unspecified CP [n=2]) between 4 and 18 years and between 25 parents and their children's therapists. The results demonstrated that MACS has good validity and reliability. The intraclass correlation coefficient between therapists was 0.97 (95% confidence interval 0.96-0.98), and between parents and therapist was 0.96 (0.89-0.98), indicating excellent agreement.

The Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) has been developed to classify how children with cerebral palsy (CP) use their hands when handling objects in daily activities. The classification is designed to reflect the child's typical manual performance, not the child's maximal capacity. It classifies the collaborative use of both hands together. Validation was based on the experience within an expert group, a review of the literature, and thorough analysis of children across a spectrum of function. Discussions continued until consensus was reached, first about the constructs, then about the content of the five levels. Parents and therapists were interviewed about the content and the description of levels. Reliability was tested between pairs of therapists for 168 children (70 females, 98 males; with hemiplegia [n= 52], diplegia [n= 70], tetraplegia [n= 19], ataxia [n= 6], dyskinesia [n= 19], and unspecified CP [n= 2]) between 4 and 18 years and between 25 parents and their children's therapists. The results demonstrated that MACS has good validity and reliability. The intraclass correlation coefficient between therapists was 0.97 (95% confidence interval 0.96–0.98), and between parents and therapist was 0.96 (0.89‐0.98), indicating excellent agreement.

AIM The aim of this study was to investigate the acquisition of self-care and mobility skills in children with cerebral palsy (CP) in relation to their manual ability and gross motor function.METHOD Data from the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) self-care and mobility functional skill scales, the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS), and the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) were collected from 195 children with CP (73 females, 122 males; mean age 8y 1mo; SD 3y 11mo; range 3-15y); 51% had spastic bilateral CP, 36% spastic unilateral CP, 8% dyskinetic CP, and 3% ataxic CP. The percentage of children classified as MACS levels I to V was 28%, 34%, 17%, 7%, and 14% respectively, and classified as GMFCS levels I to V was 46%, 16%, 15%, 11%, and 12% respectively. RESULTS Children classified as MACS and GMFCS levels I or II scored higher than children inMACS and GMFCS levels III to V on both the self-care and mobility domains of the PEDI, with significant differences between all classification levels (p<0.001). The stepwise multiple regression analysis verified that MACS was the strongest predictor of self-care skills (66%) and that GMFCS was the strongest predictor of mobility skills (76%). A strong correlation between age and self-care ability was found among children classified as MACS level I or II and between age and mobility among children classified as GMFCS level I. Many of these children achieved independence, but at a later age than typically developing children. Children at other MACS and GMFCS levels demonstrated minimal progress with age.

Purpose: People with cerebral palsy (CP) or spina bifida (SB) often struggle to perform everyday-life activities. Both groups frequently also have difficulties in creating and using strategies effectively when performing tasks. The cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance (CO-OP) Approach combines the learning of cognitive strategies with task-specific approaches through a client-centred procedure. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the COOP Approach is feasible for and potentially beneficial to adolescents and young adults with CP or SB in Sweden by analysing four areas of feasibility (acceptability, efficacy, adaptation, and expansion). Methods: Exploratory multiple-case study using mixed methods. Ten persons aged 16-28, five with each condition, participated in an intervention period. Assessments were performed on three occasions: baseline, post-intervention, and six-month follow-up. Results: The result demonstrates that the COOP Approach has the potential to enable adolescents and young adults with either condition to achieve personal goals and to enhance their planning skills and their ability to use strategies when performing activities. This approach is also compatible with the core values of habilitation in Sweden and was found by the participants to be highly meaningful and useful. Conclusions: The COOP Approach is feasible for adolescents and young adults with SB or CP in Sweden. ä IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION The Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance is a feasible approach for adolescents and young adults with spina bifida and with cerebral palsy. is a promising approach when it comes to enabling the achievement of personal goals. might have potential to enhance executive functioning through strategy use. is in line with the fundamental core values of disability rights of inclusion, empowerment, and participation.

ABBREVIATION MACSManual Ability Classification System AIM To evaluate the stability over time of the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) levels.METHOD The study group comprised 1267 children with cerebral palsy (746 males, 521 females) who were followed from 2005 to 2010 with two or more registered MACS classifications rated at least 1 year apart. Thirty-five percent of the children (n=445) had four MACS registrations. The children were between 4 and 17 years old at their first rating, The stability over time was also compared between children who were younger (4y of age) or older (≥10y) at the time of their first classification.RESULTS An excellent stability was found between two ratings at 1-year intervals with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.97 (95% CI 0.97-0.97) and 82% agreement (n=1267). The stability was also excellent for two ratings performed 3 to 5 years apart (ICC 0.96; 95% CI 0.95-0.97) with an agreement of 78% (n=445). Across four ratings, 70% of the children remained at the same level. The results were similar for younger and older children, indicating that stability was not influenced by age.INTERPRETATION This study provides evidence that MACS levels are stable over time and that the classification has predictive value.Cerebral palsy (CP) is a clinical description and by definition; a permanent disorder of the development of movement and posture, causing activity limitation, attributed to non-progressive disturbances that occurred in the developing fetal or infant brain. 1 The motor disorder in CP is often accompanied by disturbances of sensation, perception, cognition, communication, and behavior, by epilepsy, and by secondary musculoskeletal problems.1 This description gives no information about the children's functional ability, and it has been suggested that the diagnosis of CP should be used together with functional classifications.1 One of these classifications is the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) 2 that has been widely used in recent years, both in clinical practice and in research. However, further investigation is required to determine whether or not children remain at the same MACS level during development and growth and to establish if the MACS ratings have predictive value.The MACS consists of five levels and was designed to classify how children with CP aged 4 to 18 years use their hands when handling objects in daily activities.2 Children at MACS level I handle most objects easily and successfully. At MACS level II, they handle most objects but with somewhat reduced ability and/or speed. Children at MACS levels III to V need assistance to different degrees. At MACS level III, children handle objects with difficulty and require help in preparing and/or modifying activities. Children at MACS level IV can handle a limited selection of easily managed objects in adapted situations. At MACS level V, children cannot handle objects and have severely limited ability to perform even the simplest of actions. Further descriptions of the MACS levels can b...

Dahlstrand (2019): "With COOP I'm the boss"-experiences of the cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance approach as reported by young adults with cerebral palsy or spina bifida, Disability and Rehabilitation,

Our results suggest that the BFMF may provide complementary information to the MACS regarding fine motor function and actual use of the hands, particularly if used as a classification of fine motor capacity.

The young adults with cerebral palsy consider that, despite life being so demanding, it is extremely important to perform activities themselves and to feel included, as this enables personal growth. Hence, it is necessary to advance intervention methods based on personally important activities to enable individuals with cerebral palsy to find their own way to perform activities. Further research is needed to increase opportunities for individuals with cerebral palsy to perform everyday activities without too much fatigue and struggle. Implications for Rehabilitation For young adults with cerebral palsy it is extremely important to perform everyday activities independently; by DOING activities they form their identity. Intervention models aimed to enable persons with cerebral palsy to be involved and find their own way to perform everyday activities should be emphasized. Attention must be paid to how mental fatigue is manifested in persons with cerebral palsy. To build self-awareness and self-efficacy, individuals with cerebral palsy need information, early in life, about cerebral palsy and the multifaceted difficulties the disability might lead to.