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

Abstract

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. Parent and physiotherapist perspectives of <i>Sports Stars:</i> a novel, practitioner-led, peer-group sports intervention <b>(</b>Trial registration: ACTRN12617000313336) were collected from <i>Sports Stars</i> Session Reports (39 children, 6-12 years, GMFCS <i>I</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 <i>Participation</i> (<i>Attendance</i>, <i>Involvement</i>), (2) sports <i>Activity Competence</i> across <i>Physical, Social, Cognitive</i> and <i>Psychological Physical Literacy</i> domains and (3) overall acceptability. Over 84% of children <i>Attended</i> most sessions. Physiotherapists rated session <i>Involvement</i> as high (median = 3/4). In Session Reports, physiotherapists recorded quantitative improvements in <i>Physical</i> and <i>Cognitive</i> performance and described improvements across all domains. Parents reported improvements across all domains, with comments focusing on <i>Social</i> and <i>Psychological</i> 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. Parents and physiotherapists perceived <i>Sports Stars</i>, a practitioner-led, peer-group sports intervention, as effective and acceptable for children with cerebral palsy with sports-focussed goals.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONParents and physiotherapists agree that <i>Sports Stars</i> 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 <i>Physical, Cognitive</i>, <i>Social</i> and <i>Psychological</i> content and outcomes.