A Physical Therapy Intervention to Advance Cognitive and Motor Skills: A Single Subject Study of a Young Child With Cerebral Palsy

Physical therapy interventions for children with severe motor impairments do not address the relationship between motor and cognitive development. Evaluate the potential of a physical therapy intervention focusing on enhancing cognitive and motor outcomes in a child with severe motor impairments. AB phase design without reversal. One child participated in 8 assessments from 4 to 29 months of age. The START-Play intervention was provided for 3 months following 4 baseline assessments over 12 months. Total Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), Sitting, Reaching, and Problem Solving assessments were completed. Visual inspection, 2 standard deviation (SD) Band Method, and percent of nonoverlapping data methods evaluated change. This child had improved GMFM total and sitting scores, increased frequency of toys contacts, and increased rate of problem-solving behaviors following intervention. START-Play shows promise for children with severe motor impairments. Additional research is needed to evaluate efficacy.