Background and Purpose: Cerebral Palsy (CP) is often associated with poor Functional Performance (FP [impairment of mobility, walking efficiency]). Task-oriented Training (ToT) approaches that employed the use of limited tasks were unable to enhance the children’s ability to improve their FP. It was therefore hypothesised that using ToT with multiple tasks may possibly improve FP of children with CP. This study evaluates the effect of TOT involving multiple tasks on the FP of children with CP.

Relevance: Improvement in the FP of children with CP can be used as a yard-stick for measuring effectiveness of neurological rehabilitation. It could increase activity and participation levels of the children with CP. Participants/Subjects: A total of 46 children with CP were consecutively recruited from outpatient physiotherapy clinics of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, and Usman International School Kano. They were randomly assigned into ToT group (n=23) and control group (CG) (n=23) using simple random sampling.

Methodology: The TOT intervention (unloaded and loaded sit-to-stand, forward step up, high stick stepping, circular movement and stair climbing and descending) was given twice weekly for 12 weeks. While the CG practiced conventional Physiotherapy twice weekly for 12 weeks. Mobility and walking efficiency were assessed using mobility questionnaire (Mobques) and 10meter walk test respectively at baseline; end of 6^th and 12^th weeks, and at 6^th week post intervention period. The study was registered with the Pan Africa Clinical trials registry (PACTR201602001333320). Data were analysed using repeated measures ANOVA, Student’s–t, Mann-Whitney U, Friedman’s, and post-hoc tests at α 0.05.

Result: A total of 39 children complete the study (TOT, n=20; CG n=19). The children were comparable in their age (TOT=8.7±3.0years; CG=7.9±3.1 years; P>0.05) and height (TOT=1.3±0.2m; CG=1.2±0.2m; P>0.05). Scores of mobility [TOT= 73.3 (35.7); CG = 64.3 (16.1); P>0.05] and walking efficiency (TOT=0.63±0.2m/s; CG = 0.63±0.19m/s; P>0.05] were comparable at baseline. At the end of 6^th week, the scores of mobility [TOT = 77.2 (20.8); CG=67.0 (17.0); P>0.05] and walking efficiency (TOT = 0.75±0.27m/s; CG= 0.76±0.25m/s; P>0.05] were not significantly different. At the end of 12^th week, there were significant between-group differences for mobility [TOT=87.4 (8.7); CG=72.3 (22.3); P<0.05], and walking efficiency (TOT=1.00±0.29m/s; CG=0.78±0.28m/s; P<0.05). At the end of 6^th week post intervention, mobility [TOT=87.7 (8.9); CG=67.0 (19.7); P<0.05] and walking efficiency (TOT=1.00±0.30m/s; CG=0.78±0.28m/s; P<0.05) were significantly different between-group in favor of the TOT group.

Conclusion: TOT involving multiple tasks produced improvement in the FP of children with CP which was retained after cessation of training.  Implications: Task-oriented exercise training is more effective than conventional exercise for improvement of functional performance of children with CP.

Keywords: Task-oriented Training, Cerebral Palsy, Functional Performance, Mobility, walking efficiency