CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS
Early identification and timely intervention are widely accepted as best practice for children with CP. Infants in Uppsala County have unequal access to timely physiotherapy, where children considered at low risk for CP receive therapy later. The high variability in referral practices suggests that knowledge of CP attributes in young children varies widely across organizations and professionals. It is especially children referred from the CHS who have delayed access to intervention, indicating that the current practice of measuring milestone achievement does not efficiently detect CP. This is concerning given the CHS’s vital role in early detection of developmental disabilities.
To provide high quality care that is equal and safe, all professionals working with developmental surveillance and health monitoring, regardless of organizational level, need appropriate knowledge of typical and atypical motor development, including early clinical signs of CP. Without continuous professional development initiatives to increase such knowledge, children will continue to experience delayed access to intervention. Evidence-based assessment methods should be used when available, as these improve early detection and support clinical decision-making. Furthermore, when aberrant motor performance is observed, the child should promptly be referred to physiotherapy regardless of formal medical diagnosis.