F‐words ingredients of non‐invasive interventions for young ambulant children with cerebral palsy: A scoping review

Abstract

AimTo map the ingredients of non‐invasive interventions provided to young ambulant children with cerebral palsy.MethodArticles were screened and each study's characteristics extracted. The intervention ingredients were described in terms of the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System and linked to the ‘F‐words’. Results were interpreted and validated by a patient and public involvement group.ResultsSixty‐one papers were included, of which 55.5% were classified as randomized controlled trial design studies. The selected studies included a total of 2187 children (mean age range 3 months to 5 years 11 months), most from high‐income countries. The included studies investigated a total of 27 interventions, which together presented ingredients representing all F‐words, in the following order of frequency: ‘fitness’ (e.g. strength and endurance training), ‘functioning’ (e.g. active and repetitive practice of a task), ‘family’ (e.g. context‐focused therapy), ‘fun’ (e.g. inclusion of child‐friendly activities), ‘friends’ (e.g. group activities), and ‘future’ (e.g. didactic information sharing). Thus, ingredients related to the F‐word ‘future’ were the most infrequently reported.InterpretationTherapists and families need to be aware of the most appropriate match between the F‐word goals, ingredients, and targets. Finally, ‘fun’, ‘friends’, and ‘future’ should be addressed as potential outcomes in future studies.