Parental Perceptions of Physical Therapy Use Among Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Meta-Synthesis.

The review synthesizes parental perceptions, not measured physical therapy outcomes, so it cannot show whether therapy works. It excluded occupational, recreational, and speech therapy findings, even though children with cerebral palsy often receive multiple therapies. Only English-language studies were included, so non-English parental perspectives were missed. The included studies came from a limited number of regions and cultures, so findings may not transfer to all settings. Several included studies did not report child cerebral palsy severity, participant age, or education, making it hard to know whose views were represented. Some included studies reported both physical and occupational therapy, but the synthesis used only physical therapy findings.

Do not read parents' positive descriptions as evidence that physical therapy improves motor outcomes. This synthesis reports experiences and themes, not measured effects.