Effectiveness of the Petö Method on Gross Motor Function in Children With Cerebral Palsy: a Quasi-experimental Pilot Study. (Petö method)

EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PETÖ METHOD ON GROSS MOTOR FUNCTION IN CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL PILOT STUDY.

Cerebral palsy is the most frequent cause of physical disability in childhood. The Petö Method proposes a comprehensive pedagogical-therapeutic approach to improve functionality. Historically, the Petö Method (Conductive Education) has faced skepticism regarding its clinical efficacy. Notable reports, such as the one by the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM), have previously concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support its use. However, these critiques emphasized that prior studies suffered from serious methodological deficiencies and a lack of validated measurement instruments.

Our study directly addresses these gaps by implementing the Gross Motor Function Measure-66 (GMFM-66). Unlike older scales, the GMFM-66 provides a valid and reliable estimate of motor behavior in children with CP, offering the sensitivity required to detect minimal yet clinically relevant changes.

In our results, the Petö Method is shown to be an effective intervention for improving gross motor function in children with significant levels of motor impairment. The observed changes are not only statistically significant but also clinically relevant, exceeding the minimal detectable change and promoting functional autonomy in activities of daily living.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Cerebral Palsy
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Education

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 13

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Almería, Spain, 04120
    • University of Almeria

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The sample consisted of thirteen pediatric patients diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP). The inclusion criteria were age between 4 and 9 years (inclusive), diagnosis of spastic cerebral palsy, with motor impairment of level III and IV (Gross Motor Function Classification System - GMFCS), sufficient cognitive competence to understand and execute simple commands. In addition, participants were required to have completed a three-month therapeutic rest period without any other type of prior therapy (to ensure the 'novelty' effect of the therapy and avoid contamination with other interventions). Exclusion criteria included the presence of severe sensory deficits and serious behavioral disorders that could interfere with the group dynamics of the intervention. It should be noted that epilepsy under pharmacological control was not a reason for exclusion from this study.

The exclusion of a control group from this study was due to recruitment issues, as it was not possible to obtain a sample wit

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 4 and 9 years (inclusive)
• Diagnosis of spastic cerebral palsy, with motor impairment of level III and IV (Gross Motor Function Classification System - GMFCS)
• Sufficient cognitive competence to understand and execute simple commands. - - To have completed a three-month therapeutic rest period without any other type of prior therapy (to ensure the 'novelty' effect of the therapy and avoid contamination with other interventions).

Exclusion Criteria:

• The presence of severe sensory deficits and serious behavioral disorders that could interfere with the group dynamics of the intervention.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
GMFM 66	Four areas were distinguished: manipulation, arm mobility, leg mobility, and postural control. The GMFM-66 scale has been designed and validated in a population of children with CP aged between 5 months and 16 years. Its purpose is to assess different dimensions of gross motor skills in children with CP and to record changes over time in the characteristics or attributes of gross motor behavior.	Five months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universidad de Almeria

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Bax, M., Goldstein, M., Rosenbaum, P., Leviton, A., Paneth, N., Dan, B. & Damiano, D. Proposed definition and classification of cerebral palsy. Dev. Med. Child Neurol. 47, 571-576 (2005).

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 1, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 1, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): March 1, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 13, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 17, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): March 20, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 20, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 17, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: cerebral palsy; motor skills; conductive education; petö method
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Brain Damage, Chronic; Cerebral Palsy; Socioeconomic Factors; Population Characteristics; Educational Status
• Other Study ID Numbers: UALBIO2023/045

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Patient´s information is subject to the laws of the country

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No