U prestižnom međunarodnom časopisu Children MDPI, indeksiranom u najznačajnijim svjetskim znanstvenim bazama, objavljen je znanstveni rad o djevojčici uključenoj u ranu intenzivnu rehabilitaciju prema Metodi Stojčević Polovina (EIR-SPM; Early Intensive Rehabilitation – Stojčević Polovina Method). U radu je prikazan motorički napredak djevojčice čiji je rezultat bolji od svih sličnih rezultata objavljenih u svjetskoj znanstvenoj literaturi do sada.
Ovdje možete pročitati cijeli znanstveni rad, a sažetak u nastavku.
Intensive Family-Centered Rehabilitation and Motor Outcomes in a Child with Global Developmental Delay: A Case Report
Jelena Erceg 1, Svetislav Polovina 1, Andrea Polovina 1,* Ema Dobrijević 1 and Romana Gjergja Juraški 1,2,3,4
1 Polyclinic “Prof. dr. sc. Milena Stojčević Polovina”, Svetice 36, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
2 Neuropaediatric Department, Srebrnjak Children’s Hospital, Srebrnjak 100, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
3 Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, J. Huttlera 4, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
4 Faculty of Health Studies, University of Rijeka, Ulica Viktora cara Emina 5, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
Children 2026, 13(9), 1218;
https://doi.org/10.3390/children13091218
This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Motor and Behavioral Disorders in Children
HIGHLIGHTS
What are the main findings?
• In this single case, the Early Intensive Stojčević-Polovina Rehabilitation Method (EIR-SPM) was accompanied by sustained gross motor gains in a girl with global developmental delay (GDD).
• Progress appeared more favorable than typically reported in GDD of undetermined etiology, though a single-case design cannot separate this from maturation.
What are the implications of the main findings?
• A family-centered structure may allow high-intensity rehabilitation to be sustained at home.
• Rehabilitation can begin before the diagnostic work-up is complete.
ABSTRACT
Background: Global developmental delay (GDD) affects multiple domains of early childhood development, including gross motor, cognitive and communication skills. Early, intensive, family-centered rehabilitation is considered key to optimizing functional outcomes in affected children. Case Presentation: We report a female child with GDD who began rehabilitation at our institution at 15 months of age, presenting with generalized hypotonia with superimposed fluctuating episodes of hypertonia, poor postural control, absent independent sitting, markedly reduced spontaneous motor activity, and associated cognitive and communication delay. Brain MRI at 7 months showed no parenchymal abnormality, with mildly enlarged extracerebral cerebrospinal fluid spaces and ventricular system. The metabolic and genetic evaluation performed so far, including microarray/MLPA-based screening for common microdeletion syndromes and SMN1/SMN2 genotyping, has not identified a specific underlying etiology. Diagnostic work-up is ongoing. Rehabilitation was delivered as a comprehensive, multidomain program; this report focuses specifically on the child’s motor progression. Intervention: The child underwent the Early Intensive Stojčević-Polovina Rehabilitation Method (EIR-SPM), a high-intensity, continuous approach for children with cerebral palsy, at-risk infants, and other developmental disabilities, built on parental education enabling home-based continuity of therapy. Rehabilitation focus is selected according to the child’s optimal developmental stage—the milestone showing the least abnormal movement patterns and muscle tone—rather than chronological age, with positions progressively adjusted following the trajectory of typical motor development described by Vojta. Results: Gross motor function, monitored using the Gross Motor Function Measure–88 (GMFM-88) at four assessment points from 15 months to 6 years 6 months of age, improved progressively from 10.8% to 48.9%, 64.7%, and finally 73.9%. The child achieved independent kneeling, reciprocal crawling, independent sitting in all positions, independent standing and assisted stepping. Conclusions: In this child with GDD of undetermined etiology, more than five years of intensive, family-centered rehabilitation according to the EIR-SPM were accompanied by substantial and sustained gains in gross motor function and functional independence. This report suggests that meaningful progress remains achievable even when rehabilitation begins later than the period considered optimal within the EIR-SPM framework, and that a family-centered structure may be what makes therapy of this intensity and duration sustainable.
Keywords: global developmental delay; early intervention; family-centered rehabilitation; Early Intensive Stojčević-Polovina Rehabilitation Method; Gross Motor Function Measure; cerebral palsy; Vojta method; case report