Intensive Goal Training With Educational Strategies for Adolescents With Cerebral Palsy

Adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) have limitations to perform daily routine activities. The use of educational strategies associated to an approach based on motor learning principles was found to be effective in promoting motor outcomes in individuals with CP. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effectiveness of an intensive, goal-directed training associated with education for parents and adolescents in promoting the daily functioning of adolescents with CP. A randomized clinical trial, with 20 adolescents with CP, aged between 12 and 17 years and 11 months, and their respective caregivers. Adolescents will be randomly allocated into one of two groups: (a) intensive training of functional goals with adolescents or (b) intensive functional goal training with adolescents, including parenting and adolescent education strategies.

Inclusion Criteria:Adolescents with: (a) medical diagnosis of CP (unilateral or bilateral); (b) age between 12 and 17 years and 11 months; (c) manual ability Classified by the Manual Ability Classification System - MACS, at levels I (adolescents capable of handling objects of effectively and independently) to III (adolescents with limited repertoire of activities, who handle objects with supervision or adaptation); (d) gross motor function classified by the Gross Motor Function Classification System - GMFCS Expanded and Revised (GMFCS E & R), in the levels I (adolescents who walk in different contexts, but have limited speed, balance and coordination to run and jump) to IV (adolescents who use a wheelchair in most contexts, but are able to sustain weight on their lower limbs to help in transfers and walking short distances with physical help from a person); (e) communication function classified by the Communication Function Classification System for Individuals with Cerebral Palsy (CFCS) at levels: I (communicates at a appropriate pace with little or no delay in understanding, elaborating a speech, or resolve a misunderstanding); II (independently alternates sender and receiver roles with most people in most situations, but the pace of conversation is slow).Exclusion Criteria:Adolescents undergoing any type of intensive intervention, orthopedic surgery or application of botulinum toxin in the upper limbs and/or less than six months will be excluded.