Melfald Tveten K1,2, Rieber J1
1Children`s Physiotherapy Center, Bergen, Norway, 2Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Department of Health and Functioning, Bergen, Norway
Background: A growing body of evidence supportsthe effect of intensive training for children with disabilities. In 2017, children age 0-16 years with disabilities across Norway could apply for a new and adapted cross professional intensive training program at the Children`s Physical Therapy Centre in Bergen. The program is funded by The Norwegian Health Economics Administration, and consists of five hours daily practice, four days a week for three weeks in a group setting. The exercise and activities are based on the children's goalsetting, grounded in the ICF framework emphasizing activities and increased participation. Physiotherapists, in cooperation with occupational therapist, a pediatrician and a psychologist, run the program. Parents are participating in all activities. High intensity training may be exhausting for the children, and one must take into consideration that participators spend time away from family, friends, kindergarten and school during the program. Hence, a thorough evaluation of the benefits, pros and cons of the program is essential.
Purpose: To describe the content and results of two blocks of intensive training within a six-month period for seven children with disabilities age 0-8 years.
Methods: Change in gross motor function was assessed with the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) . The parents of the participating children completed the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure concerning three individual goals before and after the training period. A change of >2 points in the COPM were considered a clinical important change. The training sessions consists of both functional gross and fine motor activities, aquatic exercises, strength training and play. In order to emphasize self-management, the children developed an individual training program together with their therapist.
Results: Regarding the GMFM score, the participants had a mean change of 3.2 (pvalue 0.002) after the first block. After the second block, mean change was 2.64 (p value 0.02). In the first block, mean change in COPM score was 3.38 for performance and 3.8 for satisfaction. In the second block, mean change was 3.67 for performance, and 3.90 for satisfaction. Parents` evaluation suggest that the positive results outweighed the hard work during the program. By being an active participator in the program, the parents discovered their child's resources and possibilities for activity and participation and further how to integrate new skills in daily life. The children experienced more motivation when exercising in a group, than alone.
Conclusion(s): In our sample of seven children, all participants had a small increase in GMFM and a clinically relevant change in COPM scores. This indicates a positive effect of a three-week intensive training program. A larger sample is needed in order to draw firmer conclusions.
Implications: The program is continuously running with increasing popularity. The content of the program and collaboration partners is still under development.
Keywords: Pediatric Physical Therapy, Gross Motor Function Measure, Intensive Training
Funding acknowledgements: The project did not recieve any funding
Purpose: To describe the content and results of two blocks of intensive training within a six-month period for seven children with disabilities age 0-8 years.
Methods: Change in gross motor function was assessed with the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) . The parents of the participating children completed the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure concerning three individual goals before and after the training period. A change of >2 points in the COPM were considered a clinical important change. The training sessions consists of both functional gross and fine motor activities, aquatic exercises, strength training and play. In order to emphasize self-management, the children developed an individual training program together with their therapist.
Results: Regarding the GMFM score, the participants had a mean change of 3.2 (pvalue 0.002) after the first block. After the second block, mean change was 2.64 (p value 0.02). In the first block, mean change in COPM score was 3.38 for performance and 3.8 for satisfaction. In the second block, mean change was 3.67 for performance, and 3.90 for satisfaction. Parents` evaluation suggest that the positive results outweighed the hard work during the program. By being an active participator in the program, the parents discovered their child's resources and possibilities for activity and participation and further how to integrate new skills in daily life. The children experienced more motivation when exercising in a group, than alone.
Conclusion(s): In our sample of seven children, all participants had a small increase in GMFM and a clinically relevant change in COPM scores. This indicates a positive effect of a three-week intensive training program. A larger sample is needed in order to draw firmer conclusions.
Implications: The program is continuously running with increasing popularity. The content of the program and collaboration partners is still under development.
Keywords: Pediatric Physical Therapy, Gross Motor Function Measure, Intensive Training
Funding acknowledgements: The project did not recieve any funding
Topic: Paediatrics; Disability & rehabilitation; Paediatrics: cerebral palsy
Ethics approval required: No
Institution: Children`s Physical Therapy Centre
Ethics committee: Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics Western Norway
Reason not required: The project describes a new development of clinical practise
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
