title: Functional therapy for children with cerebral palsy: an ecological approach.
abstract: The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate functional training for children with cerebral palsy (CP). The outcomes examined were goal-achievement, gross motor function, performance of everyday activities, caregiver assistance, parents' perception of family-centredness, and preschool assistants' feeling of competence in the care of the children. The outcome measures used were goal attainment scaling, Gross Motor Function Measure, Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (functional skills and caregiver assistance scales), Measure of Processes of Care, and a questionnaire. The intervention was carried out in the context of daily life settings, i.e. in an ecological framework. Fourteen children (three females, 11 males; age range 1y 6mo to 6y) with diplegia and tetraplegia, classified at Gross Motor Function Classification System levels II-V, participated in the five-month intervention. Frequency of training towards a specific goal varied between twice a day and 23 times a day, depending on the type of goal. Seventy-seven per cent of goals were fully attained. Gross motor function and performance of daily activities, including social function, improved significantly. A decrease in caregiver assistance was noted in relation to the children's mobility. Parents' perception of family-centredness improved in all domains. Furthermore, the children's preschool assistants felt more competent in their care of the children.
authors.affiliation: Child and Youth Habilitation, Box 260 74, S-750 26 Uppsala, Sweden. lena.ekstrom.ahl@lul.se
authors.forename: Lena Ekström
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Ahl
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Granat
authors.forename: Eva Brogren
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Carlberg
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational / Q000379:methods*; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D011361:Professional Competence; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology; D012919:Social Behavior; D012931:Social Environment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*