Parent goals as outcome measures for children receiving treadmill training: A series of case reports

Abstract

Background: This series of case reports examined attainment of parents’ goals for children receiving treadmill training and parents’ satisfaction with goal attainment.

Methods: Four children with cerebral palsy completed 5–8 weeks of standardized training while wearing a body weight support harness. Outcome measures were family goals using goal attainment scaling (GAS): a score of 0 equaled goal attainment, scores of −2 and −1 represented lower-than-expected performance and +1 and +2 exceeded expected performance. Parent satisfaction with goal attainment was assessed on a Likert scale from 1 (very satisfied) to 5 (very unsatisfied).

Results: All participants achieved GAS levels of ≥0, indicating all goals were met. All parents rated their satisfaction with goal attainment as ‘very satisfied’.

Conclusion: This is the first report using family goals as outcome measures to assess effects of treadmill training. Future studies of treadmill training should include family- and child-centred goals as potential outcomes.

• Cerebral palsy
• goal attainment scaling
• parent goals
• treadmill training