title: The effect of individually defined physiotherapy in children with cerebral palsy (CP).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This prospective double blind intervention study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an individually defined physiotherapy program on the function and gait pattern of 16 children with diplegia (age 3-12 year, GMFCS I-II).
  
  
  METHODS
  A 6 weeks general training program was followed by a specific training program based on individual goals determined by the results of 3D gait analyses, GMFM-88 and a clinical evaluation. Goal attainment scores were used for the evaluation of the achievement of individual goals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the general training program, 6.7% of the children achieved the treatment goals, 33.3% stayed at the same level and 60% worsened and this in comparison to 40, 33.3 and 26.6% of the children respectively after the individually defined training program. The improvement for walking, running and jumping of the GMFM-88 was significantly more pronounced after the individually defined (p < 0.05), compared to the general training program. Whereas ankle dorsiflexion, spasticity of the hamstrings (p < 0.01), selectivity of hip abductors, knee extensors and ankle dorsiflexors significantly improved over the complete period of study (p < 0.01), hip extension, step length, stride length, ankle power generation and all hip parameters changed specifically after the individually defined training program (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A quantified effect is manifest with the application of an individually defined training program over a six weeks period.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy Ghent, University College Arteveldehogeschool, Ghent University, Belgium. chris.vandenbroeck@arteveldehs.be
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van den Broeck
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Cat
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Molenaers
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Franki
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Himpens
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Severijns
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Desloovere
mesh_terms: D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D057285:Precision Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology