SPORTS STARS: a practitioner-led, peer-group sports intervention for ambulant, school-aged children with cerebral palsy. Parent and physiotherapist perspectives

Abstract

Background

Sports participation is an important goal for children with cerebral palsy classified at GMFCS Level I or II, however there are no studies of parent or physiotherapist perspectives on effectiveness or overall acceptability of transition-to-sports interventions.

Methods

Parent and physiotherapist perspectives of Sports Stars: a novel, practitioner-led, peer-group sports intervention (Trial registration: ACTRN12617000313336) were collected from Sports Stars Session Reports (39 children, 6–12 years, GMFCS I = 11, II = 28, Female = 12), Fidelity Evaluations (28 children), and Perspectives Surveys (Parents = 29, female = 26; Physiotherapists = 8, female = 5). Outcomes were perceived impact on: (1) sports Participation (Attendance, Involvement), (2) sports Activity Competence across Physical, Social, Cognitive and Psychological Physical Literacy domains and (3) overall acceptability.

Results

Over 84% of children Attended most sessions. Physiotherapists rated session Involvement as high (median = 3/4). In Session Reports, physiotherapists recorded quantitative improvements in Physical and Cognitive performance and described improvements across all domains. Parents reported improvements across all domains, with comments focusing on Social and Psychological performance. All physiotherapists (8/8) and most parents (26/29) reported a community-based peer-group was the intervention design of choice for sports-focused goals.

Conclusions

Parents and physiotherapists perceived Sports Stars, a practitioner-led, peer-group sports intervention, as effective and acceptable for children with cerebral palsy with sports-focussed goals.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• Parents and physiotherapists agree that Sports Stars improved sports Participation and Physical, Social, Psychological and Cognitive Activity Competence for children with cerebral palsy.

• Children with sports-focused goals should be offered practitioner-led, peer-group sports interventions in community environments.

• Therapists should design sports interventions with Physical, Cognitive, Social and Psychological content and outcomes.

Keywords:

• Disability
• physical activity
• group
• intervention
• physical literacy
• participation

Acknowledgements

Thank you to our Sports Stars families and physiotherapists for their enthusiastic participation, and to CPL-Choice, Passion, Life and The University of Queensland for their considerable in-kind support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

CPL- Choice, Passion, Life, received funding from a Queensland Government Community Benefit Gambling Grant to provide the Sports Stars intervention for this study. The lead investigator, Georgina Clutterbuck was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Scholarship.