Occupational therapy intervention for Cerebral Palsy - a rapid review

Abstract

 

Introduction: Cerebral Palsy is an early-onset lifelong condition that requires comprehensive care.  Occupational therapy contributes to the care of individuals with Cerebral Palsy through various intervention methods, which aim to promote independence and well-being in all areas of life.  This rapid review aimed to describe the intervention methods used globallyby occupational therapists for Verebral Palsy to inform policymakers on integrating occupational therapy into the healthcare system for effective management of Cerebral Palsy within the care team.

Methods: Searches were conduced of the Cochrane and Medline databases.  Systemative reviews published in peer-reviewed journals from January 2014 to December 2023 were includedc for screening if the search terms "occupational therapy/therapist" and "cerebral palsy" were included in the title or abstracct.  Screenings took place in Rayyan.ai first by title and abstract bny tow reviews, and then by full text.  A third reviewer resolved conflicts.  The included reviews were analysed and data plotted on a custom excel worksheet.  All studies were assessed for bias and quality using the CASP appraisal tool.

Results: Eleven articles were included in the review. Seven themes were identified from the included systematic reviews through thematic analysis: gaming, early intervention, cognitive approaches, interventions that impact cognitive function, constraint-induced movement therapy, interventions that improve motor performance, and a general overview of treatment methods for cerebral palsy among children. Nine approaches with 24 intervention methods were identified from the individual systematic reviews, with varied evidence. Intervention venues and duration also varied widely. A multi-model approach, using more than one intervention method was the preferred intervention approach, yielding better outcomes.

Conclusion: High-quality evidence from eleven systematic reviews supports the role of occupational therapy intervention for Cerebral Palsy

Implications for practice:

• Occupational therapy plays an integral part in supporting individuals with Cerebral Palsy by providing varied interventions aiming to optimise functional abilities, promote independence and enhance overall quality of life.


• A multi-model occupational therapy approach for Cerebral Palsy is supported by research evidence.


• Intervention settings and duration vary widely according to intervention aims and approaches.


• High-quality systematic reviews guide policy development in Africa, however research in the form of scoping reviews is recommended to include lower-level evidence studies and information to plot current practices and gaps in therapy service delivery in Africa.