Full speed ahead – Combining goal directed activity training and Frame Running for preschool children with cerebral palsy.

Sammanfattning

Introduction Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common cause of permanent physical disability in childhood often including activity limitation. Inactivity among children with CP is common and increase the risk of ill health. The greatest development of activity- and motor function occurs before the age of five. The Full Speed Ahead intervention combines goal directed activity training and Frame Running, which together represent a promising yet unexplored approach for early intervention. Purpose The purpose was to explore whether a combined intervention with goal directed activity training and Frame Running could enhance activity ability and motor function in preschool children with CP. Method The study used a single-subject experimental design (SSED) with an A–B–A structure, including an eight-week baseline phase and an eight-week follow-up phase with repeated measurements. Twelve children (2-5 years) with CP participated. The 12-week intervention combined goal directed activity training and Frame Running performed at home daily and at weekly group trainings. Outcome measures were Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS), Paediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory Computerised Assessment Test (PEDI-CAT), Gross Motor Function Measure 66 (GMFM-66) and a 30 meter Frame Running test (FR30m). Results All goals were achieved by 10 out of 12 participants. When comparing individual baseline and follow up medians, improvements were found in PEDI-CAT in 8 out of 12 participants and in all on GMFM-66 and FR30m. Additionally positive trends were found at group levels in all outcome measures when comparing baseline and follow-up medians. Conclusion The Full Speed Ahead intervention may be associated with improvements in activity ability and motor function in preschool children with CP.