title: Pursuit of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Treatments in Adolescents With Cerebral Palsy.
abstract: This study determined the extent to which parents of adolescents with cerebral palsy seek out complementary and alternative medicine services. A regional sample of 166 adolescents (15.5 ± 2.4 years) with cerebral palsy were recruited. Parents completed a questionnaire identifying the complementary and alternative medicine services received over the past year. Most (73.2%) did not currently utilize any of the listed services; 7.3% used 2 or more services. The most commonly used services were massage (15.4%), hyperbaric oxygen (9.6%), and osteopathy (5.7%). Youth with limited hand function were more likely (P = .01) to undergo hyperbaric oxygen. Massage therapy services were more frequent in youth with greater activity limitations (P < .005). Sociodemographic factors were not predictive of use. Approximately one quarter of families sought out these services for their adolescents with cerebral palsy. Many are expensive privately funded treatments. Physicians should openly discuss these options with families, highlighting the current state of knowledge on their efficacy.
authors.affiliation: 1School of Physical & Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Majnemer
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shikako-Thomas
authors.forename: Michael I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Shevell
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Poulin
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lach
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Law
keywords: adolescents; cerebral palsy; complementary and alternative medicine; hyperbaric oxygen; massage; osteopathy