Differences between the family-centered "COPCA" program and traditional infant physical therapy based on neurodevelopmental treatment principles.

Background: Evidence for effectiveness of pediatric physical therapy in infants at high risk for developmental motor disorders is limited. Therefore, "Coping With and Caring for Infants With Special Needs" (COPCA), a family-centered, early intervention program, was developed. The COPCA program is based on 2 components: (1) family involvement and educational parenting and (2) the neuromotor principles of the neuronal group selection theory.

Pediatric physical therapy in infancy: from nightmare to dream? A two-arm randomized trial.

Background: Systematic reviews have suggested that early intervention by means of specific motor training programs and general developmental programs in which parents learn how to promote infant development may be the most promising ways to promote infant motor and cognitive development of infants with or at high risk for developmental motor disorders.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a recently developed pediatric physical therapy intervention program ("Coping With and Caring for Infants With Special Needs" [COPCA]) on the development of infants at high risk for developmental disorders using a combined approach of a 2-arm randomized trial and process evaluation.

Setting: The study was conducted at the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands.

Does physiotherapeutic intervention affect motor outcome in high-risk infants? An approach combining a randomized controlled trial and process evaluation.

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of intervention in infants at risk of developmental disorders on motor outcome, as measured by the Infant Motor Profile (IMP) and using the combined approach of a randomized controlled trial and process evaluation.

Method: At a corrected age of 3 months, 46 infants (20 males, 26 females) recruited from the neonatal intensive care unit at the University Medical Centre Groningen (median birthweight 1210 g, range 585-4750 g; median gestational age 30 wks, range 25-40 wks) were included on the basis of definitely abnormal general movements. Exclusion criteria were severe congenital disorders and insufficient understanding of the Dutch language.

Development of a quantitative tool to assess the content of physical therapy for infants.

Purpose: The study aim was to describe and quantify physical therapy interventions for infants at high risk for developmental disorders.

Methods: An observation protocol was developed based on knowledge about infant physical therapy and analysis of directly observable physiotherapeutic (PT) actions. The protocol's psychometric quality was assessed.

Development of postural control in typically developing children and children with cerebral palsy: possibilities for intervention?

The basic level of postural control is functionally active from early infancy onwards: young infants possess a repertoire of direction-specific postural adjustments. Whether or not direction-specific adjustments are used depends on the child's age and the nature of the postural task. The second level of control emerges after 3 months: children start to develop the capacity to adapt postural activity to environmental constraints.

A systematic review of the effects of early intervention on motor development.

We present a systematic review on the effect of early intervention, starting between birth and a corrected age of 18 months, on motor development in infants at high risk for, or with, developmental motor disorders. Thirty-four studies fulfilled the selection criteria. Seventeen studies were performed within the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) environment.