Optimal frequency of physical therapy in young children with cerebral palsy: a retrospective pilot study

PURPOSE: To determine the optimal frequency of physical therapy (PT) in young children with cerebral palsy (CP). METHODS: Twenty-three children (mean age, 47.30 ± 31.95 months) with CP who had undergone both low- and high-frequency PT in an outpatient rehabilitation clinic were analyzed retrospectively. The Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88) score was assessed before and after low- and high-frequency PT. RESULTS: The high-frequency PT group showed statistically significant improvements of GMFM-88 compared to the low-frequency PT group. In the high-frequency PT group, the improvement in total GMFM-88 scores was greater in children below 36 months of age than in children above 36 months of age. Moreover, the ambulatory group showed greater improvement compared to the non-ambulatory group during high-frequency PT. CONCLUSIONS: High-frequency PT might benefit gross motor function in children with CP up to 36 months of age. High-frequency PT resulted in improved standing and gait function in the ambulatory group.