Current Physical Therapy Practice in Norway for Children With Cerebral Palsy

Purpose: To investigate to what degree functional physical therapy approaches are implemented in Norway when promoting gross motor skill acquisition in children with cerebral palsy. Methods: It was a national survey about current practice among Norwegian pediatric physical therapists. The physical therapists chose between 5 predefined approaches developed through practice descriptions by a convenience sample of 55 physical therapists. Results: The distribution of the main approaches were: functional training based on principles of motor learning, training of body functions and structures, manual stimulation of position and movements, addressing environmental factors , and conceptual methods . Working in the North and having more experience predicted less chance of using functional approaches. Most physical therapists frequently used other approaches as a supplement to the main approach, but not conceptual methods . Conclusions: Functional training based on principles of motor learning has become the method of choice in Norway.