Differences Between the Family- Centered “COPCA ” Program and Traditional Infant Physical Therapy Based on Neurodevelopmental Treatment Principles

Background. Evidence for effectiveness of pediatric physical therapy in infants at high risk for developmental motor disorders is limited. Therefore, “Coping With and Caring for Infants With Special Needs ” (COPCA), a family-centered, early intervention program, was developed. The COPCA program is based on 2 components: (1) family involvement and educational parenting and (2) the neuromotor principles of the neuronal group selection theory. The COPCA coach uses principles of coaching to encourage the family’s own capacities for solving problems of daily care and incor-porating variation, along with trial and error in daily activities. Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the content of sessions of the home-based, early intervention COPCA program differs from that of traditional infant physical therapy (TIP) sessions, which in the Netherlands are largely based on neurodevelopmental treatment. Setting. The study was conducted at the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands. Design. A quantitative video analysis of therapy sessions was conducted wit