Behavioral Physical Therapy and Spina Bifida: A Case Study

Behavioral physical therapy is a relatively new subspecialityfield involving the concurrent use of physical therapy and behavioraltechnology/assessment practices. The present study examinedthe relative efficacy of combining behavioral technology andtraditional physical therapy to facilitate an 8-year-old spinabifida child's fine and gross motor incoordination. A multiplebaseline across outcome measures design was used to evaluatetreatment efficacy over a 1-year period. The child's fine andgross motor incoordination improved the most under the combinedtreatment protocol and remained or showed further gains duringa 6-month follow-up period. Results were discussed with an emphasison factors contributing to the program's success and the desirabilityof assessing effects using single-subject methodology.