Describing the Delivery of Evidence-Based Physical Therapy Intervention to Individuals With Cerebral Palsy.

The study only looked at hospital-based outpatient physical therapy, so it does not account for therapy received in schools, homes, or private clinics. It did not measure the intensity, duration, or frequency of the therapy sessions, only the types of interventions selected. The analysis could not link the types of interventions delivered to patient outcomes, so it is unknown if the variation in evidence-based practice affected functional progress. Results are from a single institution with a specific culture of continuous learning, which may not reflect practice patterns elsewhere. Some evidence-based interventions (like constraint-induced movement therapy) were not captured because they are delivered by other disciplines or in different settings.

Do not interpret the low count of evidence-based interventions for GMFCS Level V patients as a failure of therapists to provide care. The study notes that these children may receive more services in school settings, and there is currently a limited range of evidence-based interventions proven effective for this specific population.