Description of School-Based Physical Therapy Services and Outcomes for Students with Down Syndrome.

TitleDescription of School-Based Physical Therapy Services and Outcomes for Students with Down Syndrome.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsNeal GE, Effgen SK, Arnold S, Baldwin J, Jeffries LM
JournalJ Autism Dev Disord
Volume49
Issue10
Pagination4019-4029
Date Published2019 Oct
ISSN1573-3432
KeywordsAcademic Success, Achievement, Down Syndrome, Female, Humans, Male, Physical Therapy Modalities, School Health Services
Abstract

Students with Down syndrome (DS) receive school-based physical therapy (SBPT), however little data exists regarding services and outcomes. Using a prospective observational cohort study our aim was to explore SBPT activities and interventions, and students' goal achievement of 46 students with DS, tracked by 17 physical therapists (PTs). PTs provided on average 24.0 min/week direct service and 11.6 min/week services on behalf of the student. The most frequent activities employed were physical education/recreation, mobility, and sitting/standing/transitions. The most frequent interventions implemented were neuromuscular, mobility, and musculoskeletal. Although students individually met 69.5% of their primary outcome goals, their achievement could not be explained by total minutes of either direct and minutes on behalf of SBPT, nor minutes spent in most frequent activity.

DOI10.1007/s10803-019-04109-7
Alternate JournalJ Autism Dev Disord
PubMed ID31209740
Grant ListR324A110204 / / Institutes of Education Sciences, US Department of Education /