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Effect of adaptive seating devices on the activity performance of children with cerebral palsy
Patricia J Rigby1, Stephen E Ryan, Kent A Campbell
1Bloorview Research Institute, Bloorview Kids Rehab, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. prigby@bloorview.ca
Insights
Adaptive seating devices improved activity performance and satisfaction for children with cerebral palsy (CP) in self-care and play. Parents reported decreased performance when devices were removed, highlighting their enabling influence.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Assistive Technology
- Child Development
Background:
- Children with cerebral palsy (CP) often face challenges in daily activities.
- Adaptive seating devices can potentially enhance functional performance and participation.
- Parental perspectives are crucial in evaluating the effectiveness of interventions for children with CP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the short-term impact of two adaptive seating devices on activity performance.
- To evaluate parental satisfaction with their child's performance while using adaptive seating.
- To understand the influence of adaptive seating on children with Gross Motor Function Classification System levels III and IV CP.
Main Methods:
- A baseline-intervention-baseline study design was employed in families' homes.
- Thirty children with CP (mean age 4 years 6 months) and their parents participated.
- Parental ratings on the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure and Home Activity Log interviews were used to collect data.
Main Results:
- Parents reported significant improvements in self-care and play activities during the intervention phase.
- Adaptive seating devices were found to have an enabling influence on children's participation.
- While beneficial, the devices did not meet every family's specific needs.
Conclusions:
- Adaptive seating devices positively impacted the ability of young children with CP to engage in self-care and play at home.
- A decrease in activity performance was observed when the seating devices were no longer in use.
- Parents found adaptive seating useful, underscoring its role in supporting children with CP.
Objective:
To evaluate the short-term impact of 2 adaptive seating devices on the activity performance and satisfaction with performance of children with cerebral palsy (CP), as observed by their parents.
Design:
Baseline-intervention-baseline study.
Setting:
Homes of participating families.
Participants:
Parents and their children (N=30), mean age of 4 years 6 months, with Gross Motor Function Classification System levels III and IV CP participated.
Interventions:
Two special purpose seating devices: one for sitting support on the floor or on a chair, the other for postural control on a toilet.
Main Outcome Measures:
Changes in activity performance and satisfaction were measured through parent ratings on the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. We interviewed parents biweekly using the Home Activity Log to describe and explain their child's activity performance during the 3 study phases.
Results:
Parents identified 139 activity performance issues (4.6 a child): 58.3% in self-care, 34.5% in play, and 7.2% in socialization and quiet recreation. We used paired t tests to demonstrate significantly improved performance and satisfaction with self-care and play activities when the children used the adaptive seating devices during the 6-week intervention phase. Three themes arose from the analysis of comments made by parents during Home Activity Log interviews: adaptive seating can have an enabling influence on the child, caregivers and family find adaptive seating useful, and the adaptive seating devices did not meet every family's needs.
Conclusions:
Parents reported that their young children with CP were more able to engage in self-care and play activities when using specific adaptive seating devices in their home. Parents indicated that their child's activity performance decreased after the seating devices were removed from their homes.
