Table I.
Integration of each neurorehabilitation principle into the treatment programme [33].
Rehabilitation/Learning principle | Integration into therapy |
---|---|
Early | Therapy is delivered at a young age and in the beginning stages of upright mobility skill development. |
Variable | Many different motor activities are encouraged within each session by the environment and the therapists; Frequent transitions among activities. |
Error experience | Participants are not prevented from falling or losing their balance by either the weight support system or the therapists; Encouragement of challenging tasks inherently encourages error. |
Salient | Mimics typical toddler motor play with freedom of exploration to encourage self-discovery; Stimulating environment and age-appropriate toys. |
Intensive | Three times per week for 30 minutes; 90 minutes per week exceeds the intensity of other interventions shown to have a positive effect on motor function in infants and toddlers with motor disabilities [11, 33] and exceeds the amount of time these infants spend practicing upright activities on their own because they are not independent with them. |
Challenging | Weight support allows practice of activities that are beyond the participant’s current level of function; Environment also encourages motor activity just beyond the participant’s current level of function (tailored to each child and modified as they progress). |