Effectiveness of physical therapy interventions for children with cerebral palsy: A systematic review

Background To assess the effectiveness of physical therapy (PT) interventions on functioning in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods A search was made in Medline, Cinahl, PEDro and the Cochrane library for the period 1990 to February 2007. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on PT interventions in children with diagnosed CP were included. Two reviewers independently assessed the methodological quality and extracted the data. The outcomes measured in the trials were classified using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Results Twenty-two trials were identified. Eight intervention categories were distinguished. Four trials were of high methodological quality. Moderate evidence of effectiveness was established for two intervention categories: effectiveness of upper extremity treatments on attained goals and active supination, and of prehensile hand treatment and neurodevelopmental therapy (NDT) or NDT twice a week on developmental status, and of constraint-induced therapy on amount and quality of hand use. Moderate evidence of ineffectiveness was found of strength training on walking speed and stride length. Conflicting evidence was found for strength training on gross motor function. For the other intervention categories the evidence was limited due to low methodological quality and the statistically insignificant results of the studies. Conclusion Due to limitations in methodological quality and variations in population, interventions and outcomes, mostly limited evidence on the effectiveness of most PT interventions is available through RCTs. Moderate evidence was found for some effectiveness of upper extremity training. Well-designed trials are needed especially for focused PT interventions.BioMed Central Open acces

Change in basic motor abilities, quality of movement and everyday activities following intensive, goal-directed, activity-focused physiotherapy in a group setting for children with cerebral palsy

Background: The effects of intensive training for children with cerebral palsy (CP) remain uncertain. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact on motor function, quality of movements and everyday activities of three hours of goal-directed activity-focused physiotherapy in a group setting, five days a week for a period of three weeks. Methods: A repeated measures design was applied with three baseline and two follow up assessments; immediately and three weeks after intervention. Twenty-two children with hemiplegia (n = 7), diplegia (n = 11), quadriplegia (n = 2) and ataxia (n = 2) participated, age ranging 3-9 y. All levels of Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) were represented. Parents and professionals participated in goal setting and training. ANOVA was used to analyse change over repeated measures. Results: A main effect of time was shown in the primary outcome measure; Gross Motor Function Measure-66 (GMFM- 66), mean change being 4.5 (p < 0.01) from last baseline to last follow up assessment. An interaction between time and GMFCS-levels was found, implying that children classified to GMFCS-levels I-II improved more than children classified to levels III-V. There were no main or interaction effects of age or anti-spastic medication. Change scores in the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) ranged 2.0-6.7, p < 0.01 in the Self-care domain of the Functional Skills dimension, and the Self-care and Mobility domains of the Caregiver Assistance dimension. The children's individual goals were on average attained, Mean Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) T-score being 51.3. Non-significant improved scores on the Gross Motor Performance Measure (GMPM) and the Quality of Upper Extremities Skills Test (QUEST) were demonstrated. Significant improvement in GMPM scores were found in improved items of the GMFM, not in items that maintained the same score. Conclusions: Basic motor abilities and self-care improved in young children with CP after goal-directed activityfocused physiotherapy with involvement of their local environment, and their need for caregiver assistance in self-care and mobility decreased. The individualized training within a group context during a limited period of time was feasible and well-tolerated. The coherence between acquisition of basic motor abilities and quality of movement should be further examined

Relation Between Quality of Life of Mothers of Children With Cerebral Palsy and the Children's Motor Functioning, After Ten Months of Rehabilitation Relación entre la calidad de vida de madres de niños con parálisis cerebral y la función motora de los niños, después de diez meses de rehabilitación Relação entre a qualidade de vida de mães de crianças com paralisia cerebral e a função motora dos filhos, após dez meses de reabilitação

This study aims to analyze the quality of life of mothers of children with cerebral palsy, correlated with the evolution of their children's gross motor function after ten months of rehabilitation. An observational, longitudinal study was carried out in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil, involving 100 mothers and children with cerebral palsy. The children's motor function was evaluated using the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) and the mothers' quality of life using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). After ten months of rehabilitation, the children's gross motor function had significantly improved (p<0.001), while the mothers only presented a significant improvement (p<0.001) in the bodily pain domain. The improvement in the motor function of children with cerebral palsy did not influence the changes in the mothers' quality of life.<br>El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la calidad de vida de las madres de niños con parálisis cerebral, correlacionándola con la evolución de la función motora gruesa de los niños, después de diez meses de rehabilitación. Se trata de un estudio de observación, longitudinal, realizado en la ciudad de Goiania, estado de Goiás, en Brasil, con 100 madres y sus hijos con parálisis cerebral. La función motora de los niños fue evaluada por la Medición de la Función Motora Gruesa (GMFM) y la calidad de vida de las madres por el Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Después de diez meses de rehabilitación, los niños obtuvieron una mejoría significativa (p<0,001) en la función motora y las madres presentaron una mejoría significativa (p<0,001) apenas en el dominio dolor. La mejoría de la función motora gruesa de los niños con Parálisis Cerebral no influyó en los cambios ocurridos en la calidad de vida de las madres.<br>O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a qualidade de vida de mães de crianças com paralisia cerebral, correlacionando-a com a evolução da função motora grossa das crianças, após dez meses de reabilitação. Trata-se de estudo observacional, longitudinal, realizado em Goiânia, Goiás, Brasil, com 100 mães e seus filhos com paralisia cerebral. A função motora das crianças foi avaliada pela Medição da Função Motora Grossa (GMFM) e a qualidade de vida das mães pelo Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Após dez meses de reabilitação, as crianças obtiveram melhora significativa (p<0,001) na função motora grossa e as mães apresentaram melhora significativa (p<0,001) apenas no domínio dor. A melhora da função motora grossa das crianças com paralisia cerebral não influenciou as mudanças ocorridas na qualidade de vida das mães