Efficient and effective? – Evidence behind the Alapozó Terápia and possible applicability for children with intellectual disability

Abstract

Background: The popularity of movement therapies significantly increased in the last decades, therefore the examination of their scientific background seems essential. The goal of this study is to explore the literature, the scientific evidence and research behind one of these therapies, the Hungarian Alapozó Terápia; in this study we present the available literature, results, and the analysis of indications in applicability for children with intellectual disability.

Method: The research method was a comprehensive literature review, we explored, analysed and compared the available Hungarian literature in the field.

Results: Alapozó Terápia is a Hungarian method, so we could not include international literature, therefore the number of evaluated publications were limited. In summary we found and analysed nine relevant publications, from these two were focused specifically on intellectual disability. The studies show diversity in methods and in sample sizes. Due to the characteristics of the population and specifics of the therapy to evaluate efficiency a complex research method is needed.

Conclusions: The analysed research shows that the Alapozó Terápia is surrounded by a strong professional consensus. Furthermore, Alapozó Terápia can facilitate motor development and as a complementary method it can help children who show delayed development in school-required skills. To recommend this therapy as evidence-based practice further studies with precise research methods, bigger sample sizes and control groups are needed. After determining the target group and the efficiency, based on the current publications Alapozó Terápia probably can be well adapted to intellectual disability.

Keywords: Alapozó Terápia; intellectual disability; movement therapy; motor development; evidence-based practice