AIM: To determine whether a task-specific physiotherapist-led training approach is more effective than a non-specific parent-led home programme for attaining bicycle-riding goals in ambulant children with cerebral palsy (CP). METHOD: Sixty-two ambulant children with CP aged 6 to 15 years (33 males, 29 females, mean age 9 y 6 mo) with bicycle-riding goals participated in this multi-centre, assessor-blind, parallel-group, superiority randomized controlled trial. Children in the task-specific group participated in a physiotherapist-led, group-based, intensive training programme. Children in the parent-led home group were provided with a practice schedule, generic written information, and telephone support. Both programmes involved a 1-week training period. The primary outcome was goal attainment at 1 week after training measured using the Goal Attainment Scale. Secondary outcomes included bicycle skills, participation in bicycle riding, functional skills, self-perception, physical activity, and health-related quality of life at 1 week and 3 months after training. RESULTS: Children in the task-specific training group had greater odds of goal attainment than those in the parent-led home programme at 1 week after intervention (odds ratio (OR) 10.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.8 to 38.6), with evidence for superiority retained at 3 months (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.3 to 12.5). INTERPRETATION: The task-specific physiotherapist-led training approach was more effective for attaining bicycle-riding goals than a non-specific parent-led home programme in ambulant children with CP.

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