Motor training and physical activity among preschoolers with cerebral palsy: a survey of parents' experiences.

OBJECTIVE To describe motor training and physical activity among preschoolers with cerebral palsy (CP) in Norway, and assess associations between child, parent, and motor intervention characteristics, and parent-reported child benefits from interventions. METHOD Survey of 360 parents and data from the Norwegian CP follow-up program. The response rate was 34%. RESULTS During the six months preceding the time of the survey, 75% of the children performed gross-motor training, 73% fine-motor training, 80% manual stretching, and 67% participated regularly in physical activities. The training was highly goal-directed, intensive, frequently incorporated in daily routines, and often with a high level of parental involvement. The use of goals was associated with higher parent-reported child benefits for all types of interventions. Moreover, the positive relationship, which was indicated between frequency of training, parent education, and parent-reported child benefits of gross-motor training, was not seen for fine-motor training. CONCLUSION Parent-reported child benefits support goal-directed motor interventions, and the use of everyday activities to increase practice of motor skills.