PAIN, ANXIETY, AND COOPERATIVENESS IN CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL-PALSY AFTER RHIZOTOMY - CHANGES THROUGHOUT REHABILITATION

Assessed pain, anxiety, physical functioning, and cooperativeness in 3 2 children with spastic cerebral palsy, This is the first study to ass ess children throughout rehabilitation following selective posterior r hizotomy, Results of the Observational Scale of Behavioral Distress an d observer Likert ratings confirmed the hypothesis that children's pai n and anxiety decrease over time. Children's physical functioning and cooperativeness improve over time, No significant correlation was foun d between pain and changes in physical functioning. Cognitive impairme nt, parental involvement, and children's pain behaviors explained 77% and 56% of the variance in two forms of cooperativeness. Research and clinical implications are discussed, and special considerations regard ing pain assessment and management in this population are addressed.