Training Two-Wheel Bike Skills in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Practice Survey of Therapists in Australia

Abstract

Aim: To describe current practices of physiotherapists and occupational therapists when training two-wheel bike skills in children with cerebral palsy (CP) within an International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework. Methods: Ninety-five physiotherapists and occupational therapists working with children with CP in Australia completed a customized online survey. Survey questions related to: eligibility, initial assessment, intervention characteristics, and evaluation of effectiveness. Open-ended responses were analyzed using deductive content analysis. Close-ended questions were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The ICF was used as a framework for coding and reporting. Results: Body structure and function factors were most frequently considered in eligibility (56% of observations) and assessment (47%). Activity and participation-related factors were considered more in intervention (42%) and evaluation (75%). While functional training approaches were predominant, intervention characteristics varied markedly. Excepting goal-related tools, few measures were identified for assessment or evaluation of effectiveness. Environmental and personal factors were seldom considered across practice areas. Conclusions: Current two-wheel bike skills training for children with CP in Australia appears highly variable. Development and testing of bike skills-specific outcome measures and interventions and guidance for therapists on consideration of environmental and personal factors are warranted.

Keywords:

• Bicycle skills
• cerebral palsy
• children
• cycling
• occupational therapy
• physical activity
• physical therapy

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge all clinicians who participated in this survey and the assistance of those who distributed the survey invitation.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Data availability statement

The data set reported in this article is available on request to the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship (RT), National Health Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Centre of Research Excellence in Cerebral Palsy ID 1057997 (RT, ARH), Centre of Research Excellence in Newborn Medicine ID 1060733 (AJS), NHMRC Career Development Fellowship ID 1053767 (AJS), Melbourne Children’s Campus Clinician Scientist Fellowship (ARH), Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (RT, ARH) and the Victorian Government's Operational Infrastructure Support Program.