title: Intensive intermittent physical therapy in infants with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effectiveness of intensive versus standard physical therapy for motor progress in children with cerebral palsy is controversial. Sitting acquisition is considered an important developmental milestone.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the acquisition of sitting and gross motor progress in infants with cerebral palsy treated with intermittent intensive physical therapy as compared to a matched group treated with a standard physical therapy regimen.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a randomized controlled crossover study in 10 infants aged 12-22 months with cerebral palsy; 5 were assigned to the intensive intermittent therapy group and 5 to the control group. After 4 weeks of baseline intervention, the intervention program was administered to the experimental group for8 weeks and the regularly scheduled weekly program to the comparison group, targeting sitting as the treatment goal. Thereafter the comparison group crossed over. The Gross Motor Function Measure 66 and 88 (GMFM 66 and 88) were used at 4 week intervals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intermittent intensive regimen yielded a mean improvement of 7.8% as compared to 1.2% with the standard treatment. However, these results were attributed to infants with a low functional level only (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Goal-directed intensive intermittent regimen could possibly be beneficial in infants with a low functional level.
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
authors: Malka
authors: M
authors: Shamir
authors: Ruth
authors: R
authors: Dickstein
authors: Emanuel
authors: E
authors: Tirosh
mesh_terms: D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome