Effects of a Functional Therapy Program on Motor Abilities of Children With Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

The groups' improvements in basic gross motor abilities, as measured by the GMFM in a standardized environment, did not differ. When examining functional skills in daily situations, as measured by the PEDI, children in the functional physical therapy group improved more than children in the reference group.

Avaliação do desempenho funcional de crianças com paralisia cerebral de acordo com níveis de comprometimento motor

“…When the caregiver did not stimulate the child to use his/her abilities in social function and self-care, they became more dependent than the mildly impaired children, regardless of their similar behavior. Thus, the caregiver acts as an environmental factor of negative effect, limiting the child's potential, and it is crucial that the caregiver's assistance be limited to those situations where it is indispensable 13,[19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] .…”

Parents' conceptions of intensive group training. The case of cerebral palsy

“…Different functional therapy approaches, based on theories of motor control and learning, have evolved within this framework. These approaches do not rule out training in segregated settings adapted for training acitivities, but commonly advocate that habilitation should take place in the ordinary enviroment of the child [3][4][5]. Goals should be set in collaboration with the child and family and accomplishment of tasks should be reached by identifying resources and changing constraints in the child, task, or the environment [5][6][7].…”

“…These approaches do not rule out training in segregated settings adapted for training acitivities, but commonly advocate that habilitation should take place in the ordinary enviroment of the child [3][4][5]. Goals should be set in collaboration with the child and family and accomplishment of tasks should be reached by identifying resources and changing constraints in the child, task, or the environment [5][6][7].Within the Swedish child and youth habilitation intensive group training (IGT) is offered to children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) and their parents. IGT is pursued in segregated contexts and is considered to be a complement to interventions done in the ordinary life environment.…”

“…Participation of parents, close relatives, and/or assistants is desirable or required and is seen as a means to improve their skills in supporting the child in ordinary life. An important target with interventions is to enhance parents' well-being [8] and feelings of competence in supporting the child [5,9].The close involvement of parents in the family-centered approach as well as in IGT give rise to many questions regarding the outcome of different interventions for participating parents/ assistants and family. To improve intervention strategies more knowledge is needed about parents' (and children's) experiences and perceptions of different approaches regarding e.g.…”

Relationship between gross motor capacity and daily‐life mobility in children with cerebral palsy

“…8 The underlying assumption is that a higher level of gross motor capacity leads to a higher level of capability and performance. 9 Several cross-sectional studies have investigated the relationship between gross motor capacity and daily-life mobility in children with CP. 7,[10][11][12] These studies found highly diverse relationships, ranging from weak to very strong.…”