The effect of intense physical therapy for children with cerebral palsy

Abstract

To determine the effect of an intense physical therapy intervention on gross motor function, community walking and participation in children with cerebral palsy (CP). A single group design was used with two pre-test and two post-test measures. Subjects were 17 ambulatory children with CP who participated in an intense intervention (i.e., four hours per day, five days per week, three weeks), a modified version of the TheraSuit protocol. Gross motor function measure (GMFM-66), Step watch activity monitor (SAM), Canadian occupational performance measure (COPM) and pediatric outcomes data collection instrument (PODCI) were tested twice at baseline, immediately following the intervention, and three months later. Immediately following the intervention, GMFM-66, COPM and PODCI scores improved significantly (p < 0.001). At three months, improvements remained for GMFM-66 and COPM (p < 0.01). Walking amount or intensity (SAM) did not improve. Participants improved gross motor skills and participation but not community ambulation following this intense physical therapy intervention.