We have begun to test the efficacy of the Feldenkrais Method with children who have been diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP). The overall strategy for outcome research involves administering the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88) test before and after an 8 week, approximately 30-40 session intervention. GMFM is a standardized observational instrument, designed and validated to measure change in gross motor function over time and has been used in virtually all of the intervention studies of children with CP. Our goal is to first conduct a pilot study using a small number of children. On the basis of this project, we hope to join a larger multi-modality study.

The Study Population
The study population will be grouped into a younger and older age group. All subjects will have been diagnosed with mild to moderate CP by a pediatrician or pediatric neurologist. The study groups will consist of the staggered enrollment of the first children who meet our estimated study criteria in each age group sent by the referring physicians who will have evaluated them. Each child will be seen 4 times a week (45-60 minutes) for ~8 weeks.

Infants and young children
The brains and motor systems of infants develop rapidly, and early intervention in infants with CP may produce marked improvement in function. We will provide an 8-week course of Functional Integration, composed of 4 sessions a week of 45-60 minutes each. We will then evaluate how far infants with CP can progress toward normal developmental function and compare results with those reported by other therapies.

Older children
It is commonly accepted that 5-7 year old children with mild to moderate CP have reached their maximal efficiency of somatosensory integration and motor function. Based on our experience, we know that there can be considerable improvement in children older than 5 years receiving appropriate Functional Integration therapy. We will evaluate the progress that can be made with 12 children approximately 5-10 years old who receive an 8-week course of Functional Integration.