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PURPOSE: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a major cause of childhood disability. Children with CP often lack motor skills to effectively perform activities of daily living. The aim is to assess the effectiveness of a functional intensive therapy program focused on improving individual goals in the domain of mobility and self-care in children and adolescents with CP.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-five CP patients, aged 11-19 years, GMFCS I-IV, received daily 6-7 h of functional therapy for 15 days. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, immediately after the program and at three months follow-up.RESULTS: Significant post-intervention improvement was seen on all primary and secondary outcome measures; personal goals (GAS score; COPM performance and COPM satisfaction), daily activities (ACTIVLIM), hand function (ABILHAND-Kids), mobility (ABILOCO-Kids; GMFM-66-IS score). There was no loss to follow up during the program and after three months. At follow-up, improvements were retained except for ABILOCO and GMFM-66-IS.CONCLUSIONS: Functional intensive therapy appears feasible and seems to be effective in improving treatment goals focused on mobility and self-care, even in older and more severely affected children and adolescents with CP. After three months, these possible effects were still present.Implications for rehabilitationShort intensive functional training is feasible and showing no loss to follow up in the older and more severely affected children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP).Short intensive functional training appears effective in improving individual goals in children and adolescents with CP and improvements endorse three months.Short intensive functional training seems to be effective on both mobility and self-care domains of the ICF-CY.

Aims: To develop a consensus on which upper limb treatment approach is appropriate for children with unilateral USCP and to formulate a practical guideline for clinical reasoning based on the criteria of functional therapy. Method: The FuncRehab-Cycle, coreset of tests, specific therapy components and ICF is used as a framework for clinical reasoning to enable choices for specific functional therapy approaches in upper limb treatment. Results: Practical guideline for clinical reasoning based on criteria of functional therapy was developed to make choices between Modified CIMT, Hybrid-CIMT, BIMT or BoNT-A and BIMT or functional bimanual strength training. Conclusions: Consensus was reached to realize a framework for clinical reasoning as a guidance for BIMT and H-CIMT, but not for M-CIMT and treatment options prior to BIMT or H-CIMT Aims: To develop a consensus on which upper limb treatment approach is appropriate for children with unilateral USCP and to formulate a practical guideline for clinical reasoning based on the criteria of functional therapy. Method: The FuncRehab-Cycle, coreset of tests, specific therapy components and ICF is used as a framework for clinical reasoning to enable choices for specific functional therapy approaches in upper limb treatment. Results: Practical guideline for clinical reasoning based on criteria of functional therapy was developed to make choices between Modified CIMT, Hybrid-CIMT, BIMT or BoNT-A and BIMT or functional bimanual strength training. Conclusions: Consensus was reached to realize a framework for clinical reasoning as a guidance for BIMT and H-CIMT, but not for M-CIMT and treatment options prior to BIMT or H-CIMT as a very helpful decision tool in rehabilitation.

Aims: To develop a consensus on which upper limb treatment approach is appropriate for children with unilateral USCP and to formulate a practical guideline for clinical reasoning based on the criteria of functional therapy. Method: The FuncRehab-Cycle, coreset of tests, specific therapy components and ICF is used as a framework for clinical reasoning to enable choices for specific functional therapy approaches in upper limb treatment. Results: Practical guideline for clinical reasoning based on criteria of functional therapy was developed to make choices between Modified CIMT, Hybrid-CIMT, BIMT or BoNT-A and BIMT or functional bimanual strength training. Conclusions: Consensus was reached to realize a framework for clinical reasoning as a guidance for BIMT and H-CIMT, but not for M-CIMT and treatment options prior to BIMT or H-CIMT Aims: To develop a consensus on which upper limb treatment approach is appropriate for children with unilateral USCP and to formulate a practical guideline for clinical reasoning based on the criteria of functional therapy. Method: The FuncRehab-Cycle, coreset of tests, specific therapy components and ICF is used as a framework for clinical reasoning to enable choices for specific functional therapy approaches in upper limb treatment. Results: Practical guideline for clinical reasoning based on criteria of functional therapy was developed to make choices between Modified CIMT, Hybrid-CIMT, BIMT or BoNT-A and BIMT or functional bimanual strength training. Conclusions: Consensus was reached to realize a framework for clinical reasoning as a guidance for BIMT and H-CIMT, but not for M-CIMT and treatment options prior to BIMT or H-CIMT as a very helpful decision tool in rehabilitation.