A Collaborative and Cognitive-based Intervention for Young People with Cerebral Palsy

Evidence-based approaches to improve function in individuals with cerebral palsy are needed.

To investigate the effectiveness of the Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance approach™ (CO-OP) to improve performance on self-chosen, functional goals as compared to traditional occupational therapy for cerebral palsy.

Crossover design with 12 participants, aged 6-15 years, randomly assigned to CO-OP and traditional intervention groups, followed by crossover and a 3-month follow-up. The participants identified three occupation-based goals for CO-OP and each group received ten 45-minutes intervention twice weekly in clinical context. Occupational performance, manual dexterity and Gross Motor Function Measures were analysed using generalized estimating equations.

There were clinical and statistically significant improvements in functional goals following CO-OP and not traditional therapy. There were gains in dexterity but not in gross motor skills.

CO-OP was effective to improve functional performance in young people with cerebral palsy and should be more utilized.