Background: Physical therapy interventions for children with severe motor impairments do not address the relationship between motor and cognitive development.
Purpose: Evaluate the potential of a physical therapy intervention focusing on enhancing cognitive and motor outcomes in a child with severe motor impairments.
Design: AB phase design without reversal.
Methods: 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.
Results: This child had improved GMFM total and sitting scores, increased frequency of toys contacts, and increased rate of problem-solving behaviors following intervention.
Conclusion: START-Play shows promise for children with severe motor impairments. Additional research is needed to evaluate efficacy.