Module Description:

Cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the most common diagnoses encountered by pediatric physical therapists. The clinical presentation is a wide spectrum, ranging from children presenting with minor impairments of strength and coordination to children presenting with profound disability across all areas of development and function. This is a lifelong diagnosis that requires proactive care, from infancy through childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. The expert pediatric physical therapist must understand the neurobiological basis for the different types of cerebral palsy and their resulting clinical presentations. As varied as the clinical presentations can be, so must be the assessment tools and interventions used to address each individual’s concerns with their body structures and functions, performance of activities, and participation utilizing a patient- and family-centered approach.

 Module Objectives:

By the end of this module, pediatric residents will be able to:

• Understand basic pathophysiology of underlying conditions that commonly lead to a diagnosis of CP
• Identify appropriate classification tools, and examination tools, including: standardized assessments and outcome measures for children with CP in each ICF domain (Body structure and function, activities, and participation)
• Assign a clinical classification to an individual with CP based on their gross motor functional abilities
• Assess the gait pattern of a child with CP, and utilize common gait patterns seen in this patient population to describe their gait
• List evidence-based intervention techniques that should be utilized for children with CP
• Synthesize information learned into a draft “Fact Sheet” within assigned group about a primary component of the diagnosis of CP
• Utilize clinical decision-making skills to select an appropriate intervention approach for a child with CP

 Estimated Educational Hours: 7= Asynchronous lecture: 2 hours + Required readings: 2 hours+ Virtual meeting: 2 hours + Reflection Page: 1 hour

 Requirements for Successful Completion of Module:

1. Foundation and Clinical Science
   1. “Cerebral Palsy” Asynchronous Lecture
2. Examination, Evaluation, Diagnosis, and Prognosis
   1. Article: Novak et al. State of the Evidence Traffic Lights 2019: Systematic Review of Interventions for Preventing and Treating Children with Cerebral Palsy
   2. Article: Acute and Chronic Pain in Children and Adolescents with CP- Prevalence, Interference, and Management
   3. Article: Prognosis for Gross Motor Function in Cerebral Palsy - Creation of Motor Development Curves
   4. APTA Fact Sheet: Ankle-Foot Orthoses and Footwear for Children with Cerebral Palsy_ Selecting Optimal Designs

1. Preparation for the Synchronous Session
2. Written reflection

Description of Synchronous Time:

Residents will participate in an active learning experience, “Help me: What is best for my child?”. Instead of a formal academic debate, residents will represent a child/family or a treatment intervention for children with CP. Family groups will be tasked with choosing an intervention that is best for their child’s presentation of CP and contextual factors. Intervention groups will represent different interventions for children with CP and tasked to ‘sell/convince’ a family to select their intervention. At the end of the session, family groups will select the most ideal intervention based on this evidence-based discussion.

 Confidentiality Agreement:

• Please respect intellectual property rules. All content is intended for your use only.

• All registered participants are required to sign a confidentiality agreement, which requires that they DO NOT distribute course material.