Objective: Because the treatment of children with cerebral palsy needs much time and efforts, the parents are suffering from longstanding treatment and financial problems. Home therapy based on the neurodevelopmental treatment strategy might help to solve these problems extending the time of treatment and helping carry over the effects of the treatment. The purpose of this study is to evaluate current difficulties in managing the children with cerebral palsy and needs of the parents, so that we can obtain a basic information to make the educational program for home therapy.

Method: A cross-sectional study was performed by questionnaire from the parents of cerebral palsy.

Results: The parents recognized the importance of home therapy and were enthusiastic to manage their children at home in 72.7%. However, 38.2% of the parents were lack of practical idea about the skill and knowledge of home therapy, and 51.7% had much burden about time and the expenses of the treatment.

Conclusion: The needs of home therapy for cerebral palsy by parents were high enough to develop the home program. Thus, practical program of home therapy with education of the parents can improve motor development of the children with cerebral palsy and reduce the time and expenses.

Objective: Treatment of children with cerebral palsy needs much time and effort, so it is very hard for many patients to get hospital based treatment. To develop the home treatment program with the parents, we tried to elucidate the current difficulties to which therapists were facing during the treatment of cerebral palsies.

Method: A cross-sectional study was performed to 250 physical therapists in 110 hospitals with a questionaire by mail. Sixty two universities and general hospitals, 37 rehabilitation centers and 31 community rehabilitation centers were involved in treatment for cerebral palsy, 51% of them are located in Seoul and Kyungi-do.

Results: 1) The current treatment time was 33.7 minutes, but most therapists replied that 45 minutes would be optimal. 2) Fifty four therapists (86.1%) had reviewed on introduction or basic course of the Bobath or Vojta program; the duration of the course ranged from 5 days to 1 to 2 months. 3) Fifty five cerebral palsy patients (66.7%) continued treatment for 1 to 2 years and 25% received treatment for more than 2 years. 4) Twenty nine patients (35%) received home therapy from trained parents, 75% of the cases noted significant improvement.

Conclusion: Cerebral palsy treatment programs require more time than the actural duration of time given during therapy sessions. Thus, parent education for home therapy is considered to be an essential part of cerebral palsy management.