Sleep positioning systems: a Cochrane review

The research question and protocol for this research was developed together with parents and physiotherapists who have experience of providing sleep positioning systems.

This research was a systematic review to determine whether commercially available night-time postural management systems are effective to reduce hip migration in children with cerebral palsy compared with usual care. The review also considered the impact of these sleep positioning systems on pain, physical functioning, quality of sleep and quality of life for the child and/or family.

The review was conducted for The Cochrane Library, one of the best sources of high level evidence. Cochrane reviews of the effectiveness of interventions tend to include only evidence from randomised controlled trials. This is because randomised controlled trials, when designed and conducted appropriately, are the most robust source of unbiased evidence for the effectiveness of treatments.

The study was supported through funding from the charity Cerebra. This research was completed in November 2015. 

Outputs

Blake SF, Logan S, Humphreys G, Matthews J, Rogers M, Thompson-Coon J, Wyatt K, Morris C. Sleep positioning systems for children with cerebral palsy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2015, Issue 11. Art. No.: CD009257. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD009257.pub2.

Parent carers from our Family Faculty have helped to write a plain language summary of this review: Sleep Positioning Systems for Children with Cerebral Palsy: what evidence is there that they are they effective?

The original protocol for this review was published in The Cochrane Library: Sleep positioning for children with cerebral palsy.

For more information, please contact us