Outcomes and standardized tools in telehealth physical therapy for children with cerebral palsy: A scoping review using the ICF framework.
Isabella S Christovão, Paula S de C Chagas, Ana Alice V Aniceto and 4 others
PMID 41105140WHAT IT FOUND
Telehealth physical therapy for children with cerebral palsy is mostly assessed in person, not remotely.
While some questionnaires and specific movement tests show promise for remote use, most standardized tools still require clinical settings, limiting the ability to track real-world functional changes.
Key findings
01Most studies delivering telehealth interventions still conducted their outcome assessments in person rather than remotely.
02The Assisting Hand Assessment and Box and Blocks Test showed high correlation between in-person and telehealth administration, suggesting they may be feasible for remote use.
03Questionnaire-based measures like the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure are well-suited for telehealth, while tools requiring physical interaction or specialized equipment must be administered in person.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The review included studies with varying methodological rigor, including case series and non-randomized designs, which may introduce bias. Many studies used standardized tools via telehealth without prior validation of their measurement properties for that specific mode of administration. The population studied was predominantly children with lower GMFCS levels (I and II), so findings may not apply to children with more severe motor impairment. Only a small number of studies (two) reported exclusively telehealth assessments, limiting the generalizability of remote assessment feasibility.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The work was funded by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the feasibility of specific tools like the Assisting Hand Assessment in a few studies as evidence that all standardized physical therapy outcomes can be reliably measured via telehealth. Most tools still require in-person administration, and remote assessment validity is not yet established for the majority of measures.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →