Review of research on therapeutic interventions for children with cerebral palsy.

A computerised search (Med-line) was conducted in March 1994. This review deals with the outcome of therapeutic intervention research with cerebral palsied children, published in English since 1966. A total of 37 studies were considered as therapeutic intervention. Seven studies were classified as equivalent group comparison; two were regarded as quasi/non-randomised group comparison; four studies were one group before and after treatment comparison research; six studies were descriptive; nine studies used single-case approach alone or combined with group analysis; six studies were categorised as case-study and three studies were regarded as survey in nature. A critical review of the studies revealed that the majority were based on a small number of subjects, and on short-term periods in poorly controlled intervention, often without follow-up. In addition, some studies used inappropriate experimental designs and analysis. A number of studies reported positive outcome of the therapeutic intervention but without experimental control or statistical analysis.