OBJECTIVES: To characterize the responsiveness of the Montreal Rehabilitation Performance Profile (MRPP); to measure the differential effectiveness of a task-specific (TS) and a task-nonspecific (TNS) motor learning format to promote alternating stair descent in children with cognitive impairments; and to evaluate the relevance of the MRPP to evidence-based practice. DESIGN: Randomized comparison of 2 age-matched groups; psychometric testing of measurement tool. SETTING: School for children with developmental and cognitive impairments. PARTICIPANTS: Ambulatory sample of convenience: 18 children, age 5 to 9 years, with moderate to severe cognitive impairment. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The MRPP variables measured at baseline; end of 10-week intervention; and 5 and 10 weeks postintervention. Analysis of variance for repeated measures and part-whole correlation. RESULTS: Global stair descent performance improved for both TS and TNS groups over time (p = 0.001). However, a specific acquisition and retention of the alternating pattern of descent was associated with the TS format. CONCLUSION: The MRPP was responsive to small differences in stair descent performance that are specific to the format of the motor learning intervention. The MRPP allows clinicians to determine the timing of the intervention needed to maintain or improve stair descent ability.

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