Authors' objectives: This report aims to assess the impact of conductive education (CE) on the overall learning and health status of children with cerebral palsy (CP). CE is an intervention which is most commonly used for children with CP, but it is also used in the treatment of children with spina bifida and other motor disorders. It is also used for adults with motor disorders.

Authors' recommendations: Because of the major limitations of all studies to date, evidence on the efficacy and effectiveness of CE is sparse and of poor quality. The efficacy of CE is not established, nor is the nature of CE well defined, as it is a fast-developing education approach. The available scientific literature does not show this approach to be superior to, or more effective than other treatment methods. The research evidence, while not establishing that CE is more effective than other forms of therapy for children with CP, does seem to indicate that children in the CE groups kept pace with their peers receiving other therapies. Other than the issue of decreased hip mobility identified in one study, no harm was identified from CE in the other studies. The report concludes that CE is a rapidly developing sector and can be manifested in different ways in different social contexts. CE is practiced differently in different countries. CE programs have been modified with components added from other approaches and special education. Most adaptations of CE have not involved residential treatment (as originally practiced in Hungary); some use conductors only, while others use muli-disciplinary teams. Outcomes and conclusions from research conducted in other countries, or from other programs may not be transferable to other settings.

Authors' methods: Systematic review

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2000

URL for published report: http://www.ihe.ca/advanced-search/conductive-education-for-children-with-cerebral-palsy

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Canada

Organisation Name: Institute of Health Economics

Contact Address: 1200, 10405 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T5J 3N4. Tel: +1 780 448 4881; Fax: +1 780 448 0018;

Contact Name: djuzwishin@ihe.ca

Contact Email: djuzwishin@ihe.ca

Copyright: <p>Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR)</p>