Adaptive downhill skiing in children with cerebral palsy: effect on gross motor function.
OBJECTIVE
The study was designed to examine the effect of adaptive downhill skiing (ADS) on gross motor function in children with spastic cerebral palsy.


METHODS
One girl and four boys participated (mean age = eight years, five months). All were ambulatory. Participants' Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) classifications were: Level I (n = 2); Level II (n = 2); Level III (n = 1). ADS was conducted for a 10-week period at one ski resort. Each participant had the same ski instructor. GMFM was obtained every five weeks: beginning five weeks before ADS instruction and continuing to 10 weeks after ADS instruction.


RESULTS
After 10 weeks of ADS GMFM-D, and GMFM-Total Score increased 5.4% (p = 0.022) and 3.2% (p = 0.035), respectively, and remained increased 10 weeks after ADS.


CONCLUSIONS
ADS could be recommended by clinicians as a recreational activity for the gross motor rehabilitation of ambulatory children with spastic cerebral palsy.
Sterba
John A
JA
Division of Developmental Pediatrics and Rehabilitation, Robert Warner Rehabilitation Center, Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo, New York, USA. sportstherapy@verizon.net
D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012865:Skiing; D016896:Treatment Outcome