Intensive Motor Skills Training Program Combining Group and Individual Sessions for Children With Cerebral Palsy

In Brief Purpose: To describe and evaluate a local program of intensive goal-directed motor skills training for a small number of children with cerebral palsy. Methods: Multiple single-subject (ABA) design over a period of 18 weeks consisting of A1: 6 weeks of assessment and goal setting; B: 6 weeks of intensive goal-directed functional training combining group and individual sessions; and A2: 6 weeks of follow-up. Six children, 3 to 11 years old, Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I, II, and IV participated in this study. Outcome measures were Gross Motor Function Measure-66, functional hand grips, pediatric evaluation of disability inventory, fine motor speed, Assisting Hand Assessment, and Goal Attainment Scale. Results: On completion of the described program, 29 of 35 individual goals were reached. Gross Motor Function Measure-66, functional hand grips, and self-care and mobility scores of Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory showed significant gains. Conclusions: An intensive program combining group and individual sessions resulted in a high rate of goal attainment and positive changes in relevant outcome measures even if the children had different age, goal areas, and functional levels. An intensive program combining group and individual sessions resulted in a high rate of goal attainment and positive changes in relevant outcome measures for children of different ages, goal areas, and functional levels.