Factors associated with physical therapy services received for individuals with cerebral palsy in an outpatient pediatric medical setting

Abstract

Background. Limited information is available regarding physical therapy use for individuals with cerebral palsy (CP). Objectives. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level, age, race, sex, and type of insurance with the total physical therapy units received over a 1-year period for individuals with CP in this outpatient pediatric medical setting. Design. This was a cross-sectional study. Methods. Four hundred twenty-five individuals with CP (GMFCS level I, 36%; level II, 15%; level III, 13%; level IV, 19%; and level V, 17%) were identified retrospectively through their electronic medical records. A one-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) was performed for each explanatory variable followed by a multiway ANOVA that adjusted for other variables to find the best model to explain total physical therapy units received. Results. A significant difference in total therapy units received was found among GMFCS levels (F=6.91; df=4,420; P