Pain and sleep difficulties in young children with cerebral palsy does not vary by gross motor function, parent demographics, or parent expectations for rehabilitation therapy.
Pain and sleep problems are common in young children with CP regardless of motor level or family income—universal screening is essential.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Reader et al. (2025) asked parents of young children with cerebral palsy two simple questions: did your child have pain this week, and did they have sleep trouble?
They looked at whether pain, sleep, or both were linked to how well the child could move, family income, or what parents expected from therapy.
What they found
Almost half the kids had pain. One in three had sleep problems.
Pain predicted poor sleep, but neither pain nor sleep was tied to motor level, parent income, or parent hopes for therapy.
How this fits with other research
Fox et al. (2001) already warned that sleep disorders are common across developmental disabilities. Ben et al. give CP-specific numbers that fit inside that big picture.
Griffith et al. (2012) found that night braces do not make sleep worse. Ben et al. add that sleep problems are common even without braces, so do not blame the orthosis.
Greenlee et al. (2024) show sleep sits at the center of many problems in autistic children. Ben et al. echo the theme: in CP, pain and sleep cluster together, so treating one may help the other.
Why it matters
You cannot guess which CP clients are hurting or sleeping poorly by looking at their walking ability or their parents’ paycheck. Screen every child for pain and sleep at every visit. A quick parent checklist takes one minute and can guide your next intervention.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
AIM: The aims of the present study were to describe the prevalence of pain and sleep difficulties in children (2-8 years) with cerebral palsy (CP) and investigate the relationships between pain and sleep difficulties and gross motor function, parent demographics, and parent expectations for pain and sleep to improve with therapy services. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: This cross-sectional study included parent reports of pain and sleep difficulties in children, demographic data, gross motor function, socioeconomic status (Hollingshead Four-Factor Index of Socioeconomic Status), and parent expectations of rehabilitation therapy services on pain and sleep (Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument). OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Of the 97 participants, 47.4 % experienced pain in the week prior, 20.6 % the day of, and 33.0 % reported sleep difficulties. Pain in the week prior was significantly associated with sleep difficulties (p = 0.003). No significant relationships were found between pain and sleep difficulties and demographics, gross motor function, or parent income. Parent expectations regarding the impact of rehabilitation therapies on pain and sleep varied. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Young children with CP demonstrate a high prevalence of pain and sleep difficulties. While pain is associated with sleep difficulties, gross motor function and parent demographics did not show associations. This underscores the need for comprehensive monitoring and rehabilitative treatments for pain and sleep difficulties in children with CP. Understanding the impact of rehabilitation therapies on pain and sleep in children with CP may help manage expectations for rehabilitation therapy services accurately.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2025 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2025.105029