Journal article

Publication year: 2020

Pages: 407-416

Journal: Neuropediatrics

Volume number: 51

Issue number: 06

ISSN: 0174-304X

eISSN: 1439-1899

Open access status: Bronze

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1715489

Publisher: Thieme Publishing / Georg Thieme Verlag

Abstract: 

Background The efficacy of interventions for cerebral palsy (CP) has been frequently investigated with inconclusive results and motor function measured by the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66) is common.

Objective In this observational analysis, we quantify the GMFM-66 change scores of the second and third year of a multimodal rehabilitation program (interval rehabilitation including home-based, vibration-assisted training) in children with CP.

Methods The study was a retrospective analysis of children with CP (2-13 years) participating for a second ( n =262) and third year ( n =86) in the rehabilitation program with GMFM-66 scores at start (M0), after 4 months (M4) of intensive training, and after 8 months of follow-up (M12). A method was previously developed to differentiate between possible treatment effects and expected development under standard of care for GMFM-66 scores using Cohen's d effect size (ES; size of difference).

Results After the treatment phase of 4 months (M4) in the second year, 125 of 262 children were responder (ES >= 0.2) and 137 children nonresponder (ES<0.2); mean ES for nonresponder was -0.212 (trivial) and for responder 0.836 (large). After M4 in the third year, 43 children of 86 were responder (ES=0.881 [large]) and 43 nonresponder (ES=-0.124 [trivial]).

Discussion and Conclusion Repeated rehabilitation shows a large additional treatment effect to standard of care in 50% of children which is likely due to the intervention, because in the follow-up period (standard of care), no additional treatment effect was observed and the children followed their expected development.

Harvard Citation style: Stark, C., Duran, I., Martakis, K., Spiess, K., Semler, O. and Schoenau, E. (2020) Effect of Long-Term Repeated Interval Rehabilitation on the Gross Motor Function Measure in Children with Cerebral Palsy, Neuropediatrics, 51(06), pp. 407-416. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1715489

APA Citation style: Stark, C., Duran, I., Martakis, K., Spiess, K., Semler, O., & Schoenau, E. (2020). Effect of Long-Term Repeated Interval Rehabilitation on the Gross Motor Function Measure in Children with Cerebral Palsy. Neuropediatrics. 51(06), 407-416. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1715489