None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The Australian Physiotherapy Association has received funding from the Department of Education and Training (DE&T) to conduct a motor skills training program for Victorian children who do not receive assistance under the Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD). Students who do not qualify for assistance under the PSD have movement disorders that prevent them from fully participating in school activities but are insufficiently severe to attract government support. These students are intellectually competent and will have to compete with people without physical disabilities in future education, training and employment. The motor skills project will evaluate the effect of a motor skills training program specifically on motor skills acquisition and self perception. Participants will be aged 6- 14 years old and randomly allocated to one of the following groups: Group A: Training program comprising of occupational therapy conducted weekly over six weeks followed by physiotherapy conducted weekly over six weeks Group B: Training program comprising of physiotherapy conducted twice weekly over six weeks followed by occupational therapy conducted twice weekly over six weeks Physiotherapy will consist of lower limb strength and endurance training Occupational therapy will consist of upper limb dexterity training It is anticipated that the training program will be conducted over two school terms. The outcomes measures used are the Goal Attainment Scale and the Self Perception Profile for Children / Adolescents. Assessment will take place before the intervention commences, at 6 weeks, at its conclusion and one and three months post completion. Assessors will be unaware which group each participant has been allocated to.
Interventions
Children will be randomised into one of two groups:
Group A: Weekly occupational therapy for 6 weeks followed by weekly physiotherapy for a further 6 weeks.
Group B: Twice weekly physiotherapy for 6 weeks followed by twice weekly occupational therapy for 6 weeks.
Occupational therapy will consist of upper limb dexterity training
Physiotherapy will consist of lower limb strength and endurance training
Sponsors
Australian Physiotherapy Association
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
6 Years to 14 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Children attending state schools, children that have applied for but not assessed as eligible for the program for students with disabilities (PSD), children with a movement disorder such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, Down's Syndrome and acquired brain injury, Rating on Functional Mobility Scale of four, five or six when ambulating minimum of 50m.
Exclusion criteria
Children who have not applied to the PSD, Children who are receiving assistance under the PSD, Rating on Functional Mobility Scale of 3 or less when ambulating a minimum of 50m.
Outcome results
None listed