Evaluating a Therapeutic Powered Mobility Camp for Children with Severe Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Background. Children and youth with severe cerebral palsy (CP) have limited independent mobility, which affects opportunities for overall development. Purpose. To examine the effectiveness of Power Fun, a therapeutic powered mobility summer camp. Methods. A quasi-experimental, repeated-measure design was used, with participants acting as their own control. Twenty-four participants with severe CP (aged 7–20 years) attended Power Fun for three weeks, five days/week. Assessments of powered mobility skills and functional mobility goals were conducted three weeks before the camp (T1), at baseline (T2), postintervention (T3), and at three-week follow-up (T4). Findings. An analysis of variance results indicated significant improvements in powered mobility skills ( F(1,22) = 56.61, p < 0.001, η2p = 0.74) and functional mobility goals ( F(1,58) = 80.17, p < 0.001, η2p = 0.74), with 70% of goals achieved postintervention. A descriptive analysis revealed three learning profiles. Implications. This study provides initial evidence supporting the effectiveness of Power Fun as an intervention promoting powered mobility for children with severe CP, across a range of abilities.

Effectiveness of wheeled mobility skill interventions in children and young people with cerebral palsy: A systematic review

“…The certainty of evidence about the positive effect of wheeled mobility interventions on basic mobility skills was the highest. A total of 13 studies reported data on the effectiveness of different interventions on basic mobility skills 36,39–43,46,48–53 . Rosenberg et al, 52 a study with high‐quality evidence and moderate risk of bias, reported on an intensive 3‐week power mobility camp, Power Fun 52 .…”

“…Developmentally appropriate games were adapted to the mobility levels of participants 52 . The results demonstrated significant improvements in children with different types of CP in basic mobility skills, in functional mobility skills in a structured environment, and functional mobility skills in an unstructured environment based on the 0 to 170 point scale of the Powered Mobility Program (PMP) 62 (∆ pre‐post = 52 points, p < 0.001) 52 . Comparable results on the PMP were seen in the feasibility study for the Power Fun wheelchair mobility camp where the PMP scores improved similarly (∆ pre‐post = 53 points, p = 0.043) 51 .…”

“…Although basic mobility skills were the core focus of most interventions, the impact of improved basic skills such as manoeuvring or driving forward seems to have a carry-over effect on overall daily activities and societal participation. 36,40,41,48,[50][51][52] One of the reasons for this carry-over effect might be that intervention skill training methods are often combined with play, personalized goal settings, and natural environments. This is in agreement with the results of the systematic review by Kenyon et al 20 where the effectiveness of the overall paediatric power mobility interventions was investigated.…”

“…[36][37][38][46][47][48] Driving experience was not clearly specified in the remaining participants (n = 44 out of 203, 22%). 35,40,41,43,52,53 Notably, although most of the studies reported patient characteristics such as age, sex, GMFCS level, and previous wheelchair use experience, included studies typically did not distinguish between these characteristics in their subsequent analyses.…”

“…Most interventions explored the effectiveness of wheeled mobility interventions on basic functional skills, such as driving forward, turning, and stopping . 36,[39][40][41]43,48,[50][51][52][53] Additionally, studies reported the effectiveness of the interventions on community mobility, 38,47,48,51,52 driving efficiency, 35,37 and learning continuum of power mobility use (based on the grounded theory by Nilsson and Durkin [55][56][57] ). 40,41,49,51,52 Basic mobility skills…”