Motor Training and Physical Activity Among Preschoolers with Cerebral Palsy: A Survey of Parents’ Experiences

ABSTRACT

Objective: To describe motor training and physical activity among preschoolers with cerebral palsy (CP) in Norway, and assess associations between child, parent, and motor intervention characteristics, and parent-reported child benefits from interventions. Method: Survey of 360 parents and data from the Norwegian CP follow-up program. The response rate was 34%. Results: During the six months preceding the time of the survey, 75% of the children performed gross-motor training, 73% fine-motor training, 80% manual stretching, and 67% participated regularly in physical activities. The training was highly goal-directed, intensive, frequently incorporated in daily routines, and often with a high level of parental involvement. The use of goals was associated with higher parent-reported child benefits for all types of interventions. Moreover, the positive relationship, which was indicated between frequency of training, parent education, and parent-reported child benefits of gross-motor training, was not seen for fine-motor training. Conclusion: Parent-reported child benefits support goal-directed motor interventions, and the use of everyday activities to increase practice of motor skills.