Children With Cerebral Palsy's Experiences With Adaptive Climbing: A Qualitative Study on Parents' Perspectives

Area of Science:

• Pediatric rehabilitation
• Sports medicine
• Disability studies

Background:

• Adaptive sports participation is increasing for children with cerebral palsy (CP).
• Evidence on the benefits of adaptive climbing for children with CP is limited.
• Understanding the impact of adaptive climbing is crucial for clinical recommendations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore parents' perceptions of changes in their children with CP following adaptive climbing.
• To identify potential physical, cognitive, and psychosocial benefits of adaptive climbing.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study design utilizing semi-structured interviews with parents.
• Content analysis of transcribed interviews to identify themes.
• Inclusion criteria: parents of children with CP who completed at least 5 adaptive climbing sessions.

Main Results:

• Parents reported improvements in children's physical abilities, including balance, strength, and range of motion.
• Children demonstrated enhanced cognitive skills such as focus, problem-solving, and strategic thinking.
• Adaptive climbing boosted children's confidence and expanded their sense of accomplishment and athletic identity.

Conclusions:

• Parents perceive adaptive climbing as beneficial for children with CP across physical, cognitive, and psychosocial domains.
• Findings suggest adaptive climbing can positively impact children's functional abilities and self-perception.
• Further research is warranted to validate these parental observations in children with CP.