title: The effect of aquatic therapy on functional mobility of infants and toddlers in early intervention.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of aquatic therapy (AT) as an adjunct to home-based early intervention (EI) on differences in children's functional mobility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-seven children of ages six to 30 months (x = 24.2; SD = 8.5) with delayed functional mobility participated in this study. The AT group (n = 15) received weekly AT in a community pool in addition to home-based EI with a physical therapist (PT) or occupational therapist (OT). A randomly selected comparison group (n = 22) received home-based EI with a PT or OT. Baseline and postintervention scores on the Gross Motor Subsection of the Mullen Scales of Early Learning were compared between the AT and comparison group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The AT group demonstrated significantly greater (p < 0.05) gains in functional mobility than the comparison group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AT is a useful adjunct to EI to improve children's functional mobility.
authors.affiliation: Newborn Intensive Care Unit, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. bmcmanus@hsph.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Beth M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: McManus
authors.forename: Milton
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kotelchuck
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational / Q000379:methods*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty / Q000379:methods; D013550:Swimming; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water