Task-Specific Training to Improve Sitting in a Child With Severe Postural Impairments: A Single-Subject Design.

Authors

Jaya Rachwani, Victor Santamaria

Published in

Pediatric physical therapy : the official publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy Association. Jul 30, 2025. Epub Jul 30, 2025.

Abstract

To evaluate the potential of a task-specific training model to improve sitting through tailored trunk support and incrementally challenging reaching.
A single-subject AB design with follow-up was conducted with a 20-month-old child with severe postural impairments due to 16p11.2 deletion syndrome and multiple comorbidities. Phase A included 6 baseline assessments during 2 weeks, followed by 15 intervention sessions (Phase B) during 5 weeks, and 4 post-intervention assessments during follow-up. Outcomes included the Segmental Assessment of Trunk Control (SATCo) and the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) sitting dimension. Visual analysis, the 2 standard deviation band method, and C-statistics evaluated change.
SATCo and GMFM scores were stable during baseline but had significant trend changes from baseline to intervention and follow-up phases. Independent sitting skills emerged after the intervention.
Task-specific training tailored to the child's ability by systematically progressing trunk support and reaching practice may promote long-lasting sitting function.

PMID:
40736695
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 30 Jul 2025.

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