The Effect of START-Play Intervention on Reaching-Related Exploratory Behaviors in Children with Neuromotor Delays: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial

DOI

10.1080/01942638.2022.2131501

Authors

Iryna Babik, Department of Psychological Science, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA.
Andrea B. Cunha, Department of Physical Therapy, Biomechanics & Movement Science Program, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
Dongho Choi, Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA.
Natalie A. Koziol, Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.
Regina Harbourne, Department of Physical Therapy John G. Rangos School of Health Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Stacey C. Dusing, Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Sarah W. Mccoy, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
James A. Bovaird, Educational Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.
Sandra Willett, Munroe Meyer Institute, University of NE Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
Michele A. Lobo, Move to Learn Innovation Lab, Department of Physical Therapy and Biomechanics and Movement Science Program, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

1-1-2023

Publication Title

Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics

Volume

43

Issue

3

First Page

321

Last Page

337

ISSN

01942638

Abstract

Aims: Children with neuromotor delays are at risk for reaching and object exploration impairments, which may negatively affect their cognitive development and daily activity performance. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the Sitting Together And Reaching To Play (START-Play) intervention on reaching-related exploratory behaviors in children with neuromotor delays.

Methods: In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 112 children (Mean = 10.80, SD = 2.59 months old at baseline) with motor delays were randomly assigned to receive START-Play intervention or usual care-early intervention. Performance for ten reaching-related exploratory behaviors was assessed at baseline and 1.5, 3, 6, 12 months post-baseline. Piecewise linear mixed-effects modeling was used to evaluate short- and long-term effects of the intervention.

Results: Benefits of START-Play were observed for children with significant motor delays, but not for those with mild delays. START-Play was especially beneficial for children with significant motor delays who demonstrated early mastery in the reaching assessment (i.e., object contact ≥65% of the time within 3 months after baseline); these children showed greater improvements in manual, visual, and multimodal exploration, as well as intensity of exploration across time. Conclusions: START-Play advanced the performance of reaching-related exploratory behaviors in children with significant motor delays.

Repository Citation

Babik, I., Cunha, A. B., Choi, D., Koziol, N. A., Harbourne, R., Dusing, S. C., Mccoy, S. W., Bovaird, J. A., Willett, S., & Lobo, M. A. (2023). The Effect of START-Play Intervention on Reaching-Related Exploratory Behaviors in Children with Neuromotor Delays: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 43 (3), 321-337. https://doi.org/10.1080/01942638.2022.2131501