title: Context therapy: a new intervention approach for children with cerebral palsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the development of context therapy, a new intervention approach designed for a randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapists were trained to change task and environmental factors to achieve parent-identified functional goals for children with cerebral palsy. Therapists did not provide any remediation strategies to change the abilities of the child. Theoretical constructs were developed using dynamic systems theory and the principles of family-centered care. A primary therapist model was used. A three-step intervention strategy was developed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Therapists adhered to the treatment protocol. Parents participated in the development of both functional goals and intervention strategies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A therapy approach focusing on changing the task and the environment rather than children's impairments can be a viable treatment strategy and merits further investigation. The detailed description of the context therapy approach allows replication by both researchers and clinicians. Such intervention descriptions are an important methodological consideration in rehabilitation research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. johanna.darrah@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Darrah
authors.forename: Mary C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pollock
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Dianne J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Stephen D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rosenbaum
authors.forename: Barb
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Galuppi
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012931:Social Environment; D016896:Treatment Outcome