A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF DIFFERENT INTENSITIES OF PHYSIOTHERAPY AND DIFFERENT GOAL-SETTING PROCEDURES IN 44 CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL-PALSY

Forty-four children aged 3 to 11 pears with quadriplegic cerebral pals y were prospectively stratified and randomised into four treatment gro ups. The acquisition of motor skills was assessed in a 2 x 2 factorial design using the Gross Motor Function Measure, The two factors were c onventional amounts of physiotherapy vs intensive amounts of physiothe rapy, and the use of broad, generalised aims vs the use of specific me asurable goals directed at motor skill acquisition. 82% of the childre n improved. Over the two-week period, intensive physiotherapy produced a slightly greater effect than conventional physiotherapy but the fac tor more strongly associated with increased motor skill acquisition wa s the use of specific measurable goals.