Individualized telehealth home program for children with cerebral palsy during the COVID-19 pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many rehabilitation services were interrupted and there was a need to provide alternatives. Individualized telehealth home programs can be a potential intervention for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP). This study analyzed the effects of an individualized telehealth home program for children and adolescents with CP.

We provided this intervention for 144 children and adolescents with CP (72% classified in Gross Motor Function Classification System [GMFCS] levels IV and V), treated at a rehabilitation center in Brazil. The intervention lasted 4 months during the COVID-19 pandemic. An interdisciplinary team encouraged families to choose a functional goal (e.g. self-care, mobility, play) to be trained. The intervention included the child's active practice of the task at home, parental education, and the use of assistive technology (i.e. low-cost adaptations) according to the family's resources and possibilities. Therapists provided online support for families once a week.