Interventions to improve or maintain lower-limb function among ambulatory adolescents with cerebral palsy: a cross-sectional survey of current practice in the UK.

Abstract

2 Objectives: To describe physiotherapy management to improve or maintain lower-limb 1 function among adolescents with cerebral palsy, classified in Gross Motor Function 2 Classification System levels I-III, in the United Kingdom. 3 Methods: A list of interventions was identified using a nominal group technique and 4 developed into a survey, which was distributed to approximately 2,100 paediatric 5 physiotherapists in the UK through the Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists 6 and a private physiotherapy clinic in London between April and June 2015. One-hundred and 7 thirty-five physiotherapists completed the survey. Survey respondents indicated how 8 frequently they used each intervention (i.e. “frequently”, “sometimes”, “rarely”, “never”) in 9 the past year. 10 Results: Provision of explanations to the child, liaison with families, liaison with health 11 professionals, provision of advice to schools, and stretching were the most frequently used 12 interventions with 90%, 90%, 86%, 79%, and 76% of respondents, respectively, reporting 13 that they frequently used each. The interventions most commonly reported as “never” used 14 were conductive education (88%), MOVE programme (85%), functional electrical 15 stimulation (82%), body-weight supported treadmill training (80%), and rebound therapy 16 (71%). 17 Conclusions: This study suggests that a large number of interventions are used by 18 physiotherapists in the UK to improve or maintain lower-limb function among adolescents 19 with CP, not all of which are evidence-based.