Ok,some one help me interpret this study. Is it simply
saying that CP has a natural progression of
deteriation as one ages ( all the adults here seem to
agree with that) or is it saying that we shouldn't be
pushing the kids to walk when they are young because
it would cause more rapid deteriation as they get
older? Walking is possible for Alex with much support
but as things stand today walking will not be a main
mode of locomotion. We do make sure he is on his feet
as much as possible at this time as weight bearing is
necessary for proper hip bone formation. Then again
what good are hips if he isn't going to be using them
in the future anyways. So according to the study how
should  I be raising Alex in regards to walking and
other physical pursuits? Would he be better off in the
future if I just teach him to use an electric wc to
save on wear and tear?
Joanne
--- "BG Greer, PhD" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I thought the list would be interested in the
> following study:
>
> Bobby
>
> Functional status of adults with cerebral palsy and
> implications for=20
> treatment of children.
> Bottos M,=A0Feliciangeli A,=A0Sciuto L,=A0Gericke
> C,=A0Vianello A.
> Dev Med Child Neurol.=A02001 Aug;43(8):516-28.
>
>
> Neuromotor Child Disability Centre, Azienda USL,
> Bologna, Italy.=20
> [log in to unmask]
> This study examined the evolution of individuals
> with cerebral palsy (CP)=20
> from childhood to adulthood. Seventy-two adults with
> a diagnosis of CP born=20
> between 1934 and 1980 were studied. Individuals were
> recruited and data=20
> comprehensively collected using case notes and
> through direct assessments of=
> =20
> the majority of participants from three
> rehabilitation units in Bologna,=20
> Padua, and Rovigo in Italy. The main findings can be
> summarized as follows:=20
> contact with health and rehabilitation services was
> radically reduced once=20
> individuals reached adulthood; more individuals who
> were integrated into=20
> mainstream schools achieved and maintained literacy
> than those who had=20
> attended special schools; in a high number of
> participants, motor performanc=
> e=20
> deteriorated once into adulthood. Independent
> walking or other forms of=20
> supported locomotion were lost in many on reaching
> adulthood. Of those who=20
> continued to walk, walking deteriorated in terms of
> distance. It was=20
> concluded that even though CP has been considered as
> predominantly a=20
> childhood pathological condition, the evolution of
> the effects of CP do not=20
> stop at 16 or 18 years of age. For this reason, the
> traditional child- (or=20
> infant-) oriented approach concentrating mainly or
> exclusively on the=20
> achievement of independent walking, may not be an
> ideal approach to children=
> =20
> with CP. Instead a more independence-oriented
> therapeutic approach would be=20
> appropriate.


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