RESEARCH REPORT PLATFORM PRESENTATION

THE EFFECT OF A GROUP AQUATIC THERAPY PROGRAM ON MOTOR SKILLS OF CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY. Jelley W^1,2, Albert K^1,2, Mazerolle C^1,2, Saab K^1,2; ¹University of Ottawa. ²Centre régional de réadaptation La RessourSe

PURPOSE: The objective was to evaluate the effect of a 10 week group aquatic therapy program on gross motor skills of children with cerebral palsy (CP). RELEVANCE: In the current Canadian health care system, children with CP who are able to ambulate independently without aids are not regularly treated in physiotherapy once they reach school age. Despite their functional independence, they still demonstrate areas of weakness in their gross motor skills. A group intervention program, such as aquatic therapy, can be effective in addressing motor deficits. However, presently there is a lack of research on the effect of group aquatic therapy programs on motor skills in children with CP. PARTICIPANTS: The 6 participants, 3 girls and 3 boys, were children between 8.5 and 10.5 years of age. All 6 had a diagnosis of CP, Level I or II on the Gross Motor Functional Classification System. None of the children were currently being treated by a physical therapist. METHODS: The participants took part in a 10 week aquatic therapy program. The program consisted of 1-hour weekly sessions at a rehabilitation centre pool. The program activities focused on balance and general strengthening. Each of the participants was accompanied by a friend. The study employed a repeated-measures design with the participants acting as their own controls. Participants were evaluated using the Gross Motor Function Measure −66 (GMFM-66) 4 weeks prior to the start of the program and 4 weeks after the program’s completion. As well an individualized goal attainment scale (GAS) was established for each participant based on the results of the initial GMFM-66.The GAS was used to monitor the participants’ status over the course of the program. ANALYSIS: The data from the two administrations of the GMFM-66 were entered into the Gross Motor Ability Estimator which allowed for the scores to be accumulated and graphically represented. The participants’ scores on the GAS were looked at to see if and when improvement in motor skills occurred. RESULTS: Based on the GMFM-66 results the participants’ scores on a scale of 100% increased in a range from 1.65% to 16.89%, with an average improvement of 5.89% on the overall score. Similarities were found between participants on the GMFM-66 items that demonstrated the most improvement. These items were static balance and one foot hopping. The outcomes of the GAS showed that the motor improvements were gradual and consistent over the 10 week length of the program. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that an aquatic therapy program which includes balancing and strengthening activities may have beneficial effects on gross motor abilities, such as static and dynamic balance as measured by the GMFM-66, for children with CP. IMPLICATIONS: The aquatic therapy program that was developed could be reproduced in a community pool and carried out by a qualified swim instructor. For children who are no longer actively followed by a physical therapist but who still have areas of weakness in their gross motor skills community-based programs are necessary. KEYWORDS: Aquatic therapy; Cerebral Palsy; Gross Motor Function Measure. FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This project was funded by the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Ottawa.

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