Search

Background: Parental participation in their young children's rehabilitation has been promoted to increase intervention intensity, but parents' perspectives on increased involvement remain unclear. The objective of this study was to explore parents' experiences partnering with physical therapists (PTs) to administer early, intensive rehabilitation to their young children with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: Twelve mothers and one father of children between 8 months and 3 years old with CP were interviewed. Semistructured interviews were conducted before and after parents partnered with a PT to deliver a 12 week activity‐based intervention targeting their child's lower extremities. The intervention occurred in the child's home and in PT clinical sites. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Interpretive description was used as the methodological framework. Results: The three themes were (1) focus on maximizing the child's potential, (2) participation in intensive rehabilitation is challenging, and (3) the importance of a positive experience with therapy. Families discussed a number of barriers and facilitators to participating in intensive rehabilitation. Conclusions: These results provide considerations for clinicians and researchers to facilitate meaningful engagement of parents in their young children's rehabilitation. This is especially important with increasing evidence for early, activity‐based interventions for young children with CP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parental participation in their young children's rehabilitation has been promoted to increase intervention intensity. Yet, parents' perspectives on increased involvement, including the barriers and facilitators, remain unclear. The objective of this study was to explore parent perspectives of partnering with therapists to administer early, intensive rehabilitation to their children with perinatal stroke. Parents participated in semi-structured interviews before and after partnering with a physical therapist (PT) to deliver a 12-week intervention for their child. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Interpretive description methodology was used to generate knowledge that is relevant for clinical practice. Rehabilitation occurred in the child's home and in pediatric physical therapy clinical sites in three cities in Canada. Twelve Parents (11 mothers, 1 father) of children between 8 months and 3 years old with spastic unilateral cerebral palsy (CP) as a result of perinatal stroke. A diverse group was sampled including single parents, parents of one or multiple children, parents working in and outside the home, families who had immigrated to Canada and families with a wide range of previous experience with rehabilitation. The intervention was ELEVATE (Engaging the Lower Extremity Via Active Therapy Early), a play-based PT intervention targeting the lower extremity of children with CP. The intervention was 1 hour/day, 4 days/week for 12 weeks and was administered by a PT in partnership with parents (2 sessions delivered by each/week). N/A. The three themes were 1) the importance of taking a positive approach to therapy, 2) the focus on maximizing their child's potential, and 3) participating in intensive rehabilitation is "worth it", despite the challenges. Families discussed the importance of making therapy fun, the value of intervening when their child is young, and a number of barriers to participating in intensive rehabilitation including long commutes and requiring child care for siblings. These results will help facilitate meaningful engagement of parents in their children's rehabilitation, especially early, intensive rehabilitation and home exercise programs. None. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Powered exoskeletons for over ground walking were designed to help people with neurological impairments to walk again. Extended training in powered exoskeletons has led to changes in walking and physiological functions. Few studies have considered the perspective of the participants. The users' perspective is vital for adoption of assistive devices. We explored the expectations and experiences of persons with spinal cord injury, training with the ReWalk exoskeleton.Methods: A qualitative research design with individual interviews was used. Eleven participants with spinal cord injury, taking part in 12 weeks of 4 times weekly training using the ReWalk, were interviewed before, immediately after, and 2 months after training. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. A six stage approach to thematic analysis was used.Results: The theme consistently expressed was the exoskeleton allowed participants to do everyday activities, like everyone else, such as looking people in the eye or walking outside. Their experiences were captured in three categories: 1) learning, a description of both expectations for learning and perspectives on how learning occurred; 2) changing, perspectives on perceived changes with training; and 3) contributing, which captured participant perspectives on contributing to research, including the giving of direct feedback regarding the exoskeleton (i.e., what worked and what could be changed).Conclusions: Incorporating the view of the user in the design and refinement of exoskeletons will help ensure that the devices are appropriate for future users. Availability and support for the use of exoskeleton devices in community settings is an interim step to home use as the devices continue to improve.Trial Registration: www.clinicaltrials.gov ( NCT02322125 ). Registered Dec 22, 2014 - Retrospectively registered after the first 4 participants had enrolled in the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]