Information for users
The Mini-Manual Ability Classification System (Mini-MACS) is a classification system
that describes how children with cerebral palsy (CP) aged 1–4 years use their hands
when handling objects in daily activities. Ability is ranked on five levels based on the
children’s self-initiated ability and their need for assistance or adaptation when
handling objects. This brochure also describes differences between adjacent levels to
make it easier to determine the most appropriate level. Mini-MACS is a functional
description that can be used as a complement to the supposed diagnose of CP and its
subtypes.
The description concern how the children handle objects relevant for age. The objects
referred to are those commonly found in the children’s environment which they use
when performing tasks, such as playing, drawing, eating, or dressing. How children
handle toys often gives a good idea of their manual ability. Obviously, a 12-month-old
child does not handle the same toys and other objects as a 4-year-old. A child’s
motivation and cognitive ability also influence the ability to handle objects and,
consequently, the Mini-MACS level.
When assessing a child's Mini-MACS level, choose the level that best describes the
child's usual performance in the daily environment. To better understand what a child
usually does, and how he or she performs this activity, it is necessary to ask someone
who knows the child well. The questions should be phrased to obtain a description of
the type of objects the child handles, in what situations, and how. Mini-MACS levels
reflect what the child usually does, not his or her best performance as demonstrated in
a specific test situation.
Mini-MACS assesses the child's general ability to handle everyday objects, not the
function of each hand separately. Mini-MACS does not intend to explain the underlying
reasons for impaired manual capacity.
The Mini-MACS system spans the entire spectrum of functional limitation found among
children with CP and covers all CP sub diagnoses. Level I includes children with minor
limitations, if any, while children with severe disabilities are usually classified on level
V. Certain CP subtypes can be found at all levels, e.g., bilateral CP, while unilateral CP
usually occurs at levels I–III. Mini-MACS does not include children without physical
disabilities; if it did, they would be classified as level “0”. However, no such level exists!
Since Mini-MACS consists of only five levels, each level includes children with
relatively varied function. Consequently, Mini-MACS is a classification system,
probably not sensitive to changes and should therefore not be used to evaluate
development or interventions. Mini-MACS can be used to describe and differentiate
into five levels functional aspects on how a suspected CP diagnosis affects children’s
manual ability.
The five-level Mini-MACS scale is ordinal, which means that the differences between
levels are not necessarily equal, nor are children with CP equally distributed across the
five levels.
©Ann-Christin Eliasson, Lena Krumlinde-Sundholm, 2013
Contributers: Ann-Marie Öhrwall, Ulla Wahlström, Åsa Persson-Annersten, E-mail: Ann-Christin.Eliasson@ki.se
www.macs.nu
Mini-Manual Ability Classification System
for children with cerebral palsy
1 - 4 years of age
The Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) described how children
aged 4–18 years with CP use their hands when handling objects in daily
activities. Mini-MACS is an adaptation of MACS for children aged 1–4
years.
 Mini-MACS classifies children’s ability to handle objects that are relevant for
their age and development as well as their need for support and assistance
in such situations.
 Mini-MACS describes how children usually use their hands to handle
objects, such as toys, in various settings. In other words, it describes what
they ordinarily do, rather than what is known to be their best capacity.
 Mini-MACS classifies the child’s overall ability to handle objects, not the
ability of each hand separately.
 To find out how a child handles various objects in everyday life, it is
necessary to ask someone who knows the child well. Such knowledge
cannot be obtained through specific testing. The questions should be
phrased to obtain a description of the type of objects the child handles daily,
in what situations, and how.
Distinctions between Levels I and II
Children in Level I may have slightly more difficulty handling items that
require good fine motor skills compared to children without disabilities of
the same age.
Children in Level II handle essentially the same objects as children in
Level I, but they may encounter problems performing tasks and/or take
longer to perform them, so they often ask for help. Functional differences
between hands may cause performance to be less effective. They may
need more guidance and practice to learn how to handle objects
compared with children in Level I.
I. Handles objects easily and successfully. The child may
have a slight limitation in performing actions that require precision
and coordination between the hands but they can still perform them.
The child may need somewhat more adult assistance when handling
objects compared to other children of the same age.
II. Handles most objects, but with somewhat reduced
quality and/or speed of achievement. Some actions can
only be performed and accomplished with some difficulty and after
practice. The child may try an alternative approach, such as using
only one hand. The child need adult assistance to handle objects
more frequently compared to children at the same age.
III. Handles objects with difficulty. Performance is slow, with
limited variation and quality. Easily managed objects are handled
independently for short periods. The child often needs adult help and
support to handle objects.
IV. Handles a limited selection of easily managed objects
in simple actions. The actions are performed slowly, with
exertion and/or random precision. The child needs constant adult
help and support to handle objects.
V. Does not handle objects and has severely limited
ability to perform even simple actions. At best, the child
can push, touch, press, or hold on to a few items, in constant
interaction with an adult.
Distinctions between Levels II and III
Children in Level II can handle most objects, though they may take longer
and do so with somewhat less quality, and they may need a lot of
guidance and practice to learn how to handle objects.
Level III children manage to use easily handled objects but often need
help placing objects in an easy position in front of them. They perform
actions with few subcomponents. Performance is slow.
Distinctions between Levels III and IV
Children in Level III manage to use easily handled objects independently
for short periods. They perform actions with few subcomponents, and
the actions take a long time to perform.
At best, children in Level IV can perform simple actions such as
grasping and releasing easily handled objects that are offered in an
adapted position. They need constant help.
Distinctions between Levels IV and V
Children in Level IV perform individual actions with a very limited
selection of objects and need constant help.
At best, children in Level V perform simple movements in special
situations. For example, they can press a simple button or hold single,
simple objects.
What do you need to know to use Mini-MACS?
Mini-MACS users need to find out what objects the child usually handles and how
they handle them: with ease or difficulty, quickly or slowly, with precision or randomly?
For example, you can ask about and/or observe how the child uses his or her hands
when playing and during meals, or when participating in usual activities of daily living.
Ask questions about the child’s self-initiated ability and how much adult help and
support the child needs to handle everyday objects, e.g. toys.
Below is a description of the five Mini-MACS levels of children’s self-initiated ability
and their need for assistance or adaptation when handling objects.