The role of assistive devices and technologies in the activities and participation in everyday life of children with cerebral palsy - a scoping review.

OBJECTIVES

Many studies investigate the impact of assistive devices and technologies (AD/AT) on physical outcomes. The role of AD/ATs in everyday activities and participation of children with cerebral palsy (CP) has received much less attention. This review scopes the impact of AD/ATs by the activities and participation components of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model.

METHODS

Five databases (Pubmed, Web of Science, Eric, FIS Bildung, Wiso) were initially searched between May 2023 and July 2023. An updated search (also adding EBSCO) was conducted until December 2024. Inclusion criteria were: (1) Children diagnosed with CP, (2) exploring the impact of specific AD/ATs, (3) AD/ATs that were used by the child itself, (4) AD/ATs that were applied or tested in everyday life; (5) written in English or German; (6) published from 2007 onwards in a peer-reviewed journal.

RESULTS

8539 records were identified. 2673 duplicates were removed. Title and abstract screening excluded 4919 records. After full-text screening of 948 records 22 records were included. AD/ATs in the included studies ranged from adaptive seating devices to balance-based video games. Most AD/ATs addressed gross motor impairments, primarily walking, posture and mobility (19 out of 22).

DISCUSSION

Findings suggest that AD/ATs can enhance independence in gross motor tasks, interpersonal interactions and self-care, which can promote autonomy and social participation. However, significant research gaps persist regarding their impact across a broader range of domains and further studies are needed to explore the full potential of AD/ATs over time and to improve outcome measures.