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Adaptive downhill skiing in children with cerebral palsy: effect on gross motor function
1Division of Developmental Pediatrics and Rehabilitation, Robert Warner Rehabilitation Center, Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo, New York, USA. sportstherapy@verizon.net
Purpose:
The study was designed to examine the effect of adaptive downhill skiing (ADS) on gross motor function in children with spastic cerebral palsy.
Methods:
One girl and four boys participated (mean age = eight years, five months). All were ambulatory. Participants' Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) classifications were: Level I (n = 2); Level II (n = 2); Level III (n = 1). ADS was conducted for a 10-week period at one ski resort. Each participant had the same ski instructor. GMFM was obtained every five weeks: beginning five weeks before ADS instruction and continuing to 10 weeks after ADS instruction.
Results:
After 10 weeks of ADS GMFM-D, and GMFM-Total Score increased 5.4% (p = 0.022) and 3.2% (p = 0.035), respectively, and remained increased 10 weeks after ADS.
Conclusion:
ADS could be recommended by clinicians as a recreational activity for the gross motor rehabilitation of ambulatory children with spastic cerebral palsy.
