Interval-rehabilitation and home-based training for children with cerebral palsy

The goal of rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy (CP) is to reduce sequelae and enhance function. Physiotherapy is a rehabilitative strategy for the treatment of patients with CP, but with little supporting evidence for the different treatment concepts. The Cologne Concept "Auf die Beine" combines interval rehabilitation with short and intensive in-patient stays with 6-month home-based whole body vibration training. In this article, we present gross motor function results after 6 months of training and an additional 6 months of follow-up. Gross motor function was assessed with the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM). A total of 356 patients were evaluated using the GMFM-66 total score after 6 and 12 months and the GMFM-88 goal dimensions after 6 months. The GMFM-66 total score improved by 2.9 points (mean 3.35; p < 0.001) after 6 months and by 0.2 points (mean 0.63; p = 0.033) after 6 months of follow-up. Goal dimension A (lying) improved by 2.0 % (mean 3.8; p = 0.001), B (sitting) by 3.3 % (mean 5.9; p < 0.001), C (crawling) by 4.8 % (mean 6.7; p < 0.001), D (standing) by 5.1 % (mean 8.0; p < 0.001), and E (walking) by 2.8 % (median 4.6; p < 0.001). Interval rehabilitation combined with home-based training has a significant positive effect on gross motor function in patients with CP. The results were also sustained after 6 months of follow-up.