Journal article
Modified sports intervention for improving participation goals and activity competence in ambulant children with cerebral palsy: A randomized controlled trial
Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, Vol.68(1), pp.128-141
2026
PMID: 40605736
Abstract
Aim
To evaluate the effectiveness of a modified sports intervention (Sports Stars Brazil) on leisure-time physical activity participation goals, motor skill performance and capacity, body functions, physical activity levels, physical literacy, and overall participation in ambulant children with cerebral palsy (CP).
Method
In this randomized controlled trial, 38 ambulant children with CP (21 males, 17 females; ages 6–12 years) were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. The intervention group participated in eight weekly 1-hour sessions of modified sports, focused on group-based motor skill training and introduction to popular Brazilian sports. The control group received their usual physical therapy. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, postintervention, and after 12 weeks. Linear mixed models were used for analysis.
Results
Sports Stars Brazil was more effective than usual care in improving leisure-time physical activity participation and motor performance, both postintervention and at follow-up. Groups showed similar outcomes in motor capacity, physical literacy, body functions, physical activity levels, and overall participation immediately postintervention. At 12-week follow-up, the Sports Stars group showed greater improvements in motor capacity and moderate to vigorous physical activity.
Interpretation
Sports Stars Brazil is a promising, low-cost intervention for promoting participation and motor skills in children with CP, particularly in low-resource settings.
Details
- Title
- Modified sports intervention for improving participation goals and activity competence in ambulant children with cerebral palsy: A randomized controlled trial
- Authors
- Ricardo Rodrigues de Sousa Junior - Universidade Federal de Minas GeraisGeorgina Clutterbuck - The University of QueenslandRafaela F Guimaraes - Universidade Federal de Minas GeraisMariane G Souza - Universidade Federal de Minas GeraisLuana Cristina da Silva - Universidade Federal de Minas GeraisF Virginia Wright - University of TorontoAna Cristina Resende Camargos - Universidade Federal de Minas GeraisHércules Ribeiro Leite (Corresponding Author) - Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
- Publication details
- Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, Vol.68(1), pp.128-141
- Publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
- Date published
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.1111/dmcn.16393
- ISSN
- 1469-8749
- PMID
- 40605736
- Copyright note
- © 2025 The Author(s). Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Mac Keith Press. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
- Data Availability
- Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study.
- Grant note
- This study was supported by the Coordenação de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de NivelSuperior (Coordination for the Advancement of Higher Education Personnel) in the form of PhD and research fellowship scholarships.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Physiotherapy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991266195702621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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