Table 2 Distinguishing characteristics of the iMOVE and CONV therapy groups
iMOVE therapy | CONV therapy |
|---|---|
● Dynamic weight support ● Child-directed (child initiates activities) ● No assistive devices, limited use of orthoses, no treadmill (toddler-salient environment only) ● Encourage high degree of error with reduced physical assistance ● Encourage frequent variability in motor tasks (no redirection when moving from one activity to another) ● Physical therapist expertise is focused on designing a salient and challenging environment for the child’s specific interests and ability level to encourage engagement, variability, challenge, and error experience, and on determining the appropriate amount of weight assistance | ● No or static weight support ● Therapist-directed (therapist initiates) ● Traditional early gait training methods: use of assistive devices/orthoses and may use treadmill ● Focus on producing “typical” movement patterns with extensive manual guidance/correction from therapist, prevention of falls ● Therapy activities grouped into blocks of practice (i.e. repeated floor to stand practice followed by gait training) ● Physical therapist expertise is focused on designing and directing the specific practice activities each session, tailored to the individual child |