SPARK - Publications
The SPARK Lab conducts leading edge research focused on advanced motor skill measurement development and validation and on related innovative interventions that target enhancement of physical activity, functional mobility and related participation, overall physical literacy and quality of life of children and youth with neuromotor conditions. We have a particular interest in interventions that use motor learning approaches as their foundation.
Here are some of our published research results from the last 10 years. Students who have worked with our SPARK Lab or with Dr Virginia Wright in other university–affiliated collaborations and are authors on these publications are identified with a single asterisk* for SPARK Lab membership and double asterisk ** for other collaborations.
Click to see Dr. Wright's publications on PubMed.
Hot off the Press (2022)
O’Rourke RH*, Orr K*, Renwick R, Wright FV, Noronha J, Bobbie K, Arbour-Nicitopoulos KP. Quality of Participation Experiences in Special Olympics Sports Programs. Adapt Phys Act Quart. 2022;39: 17-36.
Hot off the Press (2021)
Weissman S**, Perinpanayagam R, Wright FV, Arbour-Nicitopoulos. Application of the behaviour change technique taxonomy (BCTTv1) to an inclusive physical liateracy-based sport program for children and youth. Int J Sports Sci Coach. 2022:17: 18-36.
Spivak MR*, Chan JR*, Cooper MS*, Petrucci C*, Sheridan AM*, Tang TY*, Wright FV, Ryan J*. Reliability of the revised Motor Learning Strategies Rating Instrument and its role in describing physiotherapy session motor learning strategy content in pediatric acquired brain injury. Physiother Can. 2021;73(4):381-390.
Giancolo J*, McWilliam K*, Wright FV, Ryan J*. (2021) Exploring Motor Learning Strategies Use in Occupational Therapy for Children and Youth with Acquired Brain Injury. Phys Occup Ther Pediatr. Early on line 2021 May 18: 1-16.
Nordbye-Neilson K**, Rahbek O, Wright FV, Maribo T. Reliability and Minimal Detectable Change of the Challenge, an Advanced Motor Skills Test for Children with Cerebral Palsy, Danish version. Disabil Rehabil. Early on line 2021 May 6
Dermott J**, Wright FV, Salbach N, Narayanan U. Development of the Gait Outcomes Assessment List for Lower Limb Differences (GOAL-LD) Questionnaire: A Child and Parent Reported Outcome Measure. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2021: May 5;19(1):139
Ho ES*, Parson JA, Davidge KM, Clarke HM, Wright FV. Shared Decision Making in Youth with Brachial Plexus Birth Injuries and their Families. Pat Ed Counsel. Early on line 2021 Mar 15.
Advanced Motor Skills Measurement Development and Validation
Sousa Jr RR**, Bensemann Gontijo AP, Santos TRT, Wright FV, Mancini MC. Measurement Properties and Translation to Brazilian-Portuguese of the Challenge for Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy. Phys Occup Ther Pediatr. Early on line 2020 Dec: 1-18.
Gibson BE, Mistry B, Wright FV. Development of child and family-centred engagement guidelines for clinical administration of the Challenge to measure advanced gross motor skills: A qualitative study. Phys Occup Ther Pediatr. 2018; 38(4): 417-426.
Wright FV, Chun CY*, Mistry B, Walker J. How reliable is the Challenge when used to measure advanced motor skills of children with cerebral palsy?. Phys Occup Ther Pediatr. 2018; 38(4): 382-394.
Motor Skills Interventions and Neuroplasticity
Hilderley AJ*, Fehlings D, Chen JL, Wright FV. BeFAST or BeSTRONG: a randomized feasibility trial comparing sports skills training to lower-limb strength training for children with cerebral palsy. Disabil Rehabil. Early on line 2020 Dec: 1-9.
Kahlon S*, McKellar K*, Caron E*, Ramonov K*, Brubacher-Cressman K*, Taubman R*, Berg K, Wright FV, Hilderley A*. Opening the door to physical activity for children with cerebral palsy: Experiences of participants in the BeFAST and BeSTRONG program. Adap Phys Act Quart. 2019; 36: 202-222.
Hilderley AH*, Fehlings D, Taylor M, Chen J, Wright FV. Optimization of fMRI methods to determine laterality of cortical activation during ankle movements of children with unilateral cerebral palsy. International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience. 2018; 66: 54-62.
Motor Learning Strategy Measurement
Ryan JL*, Wright FV, Levac DE. Exploring Physiotherapists’ Use of Motor Learning Strategies in Gait-Based Interventions for Children with Cerebral Palsy. Phys Occup Ther Pediatr. 2019; 40: 79-92.
Ryan J*, Levac DE, Wright FV. Inter- and intra-rater reliability of the Motor Learning Strategies Rating Instrument in physiotherapy intervention for children with cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2019; 16: 1061-1066.
Other New Measurement Development/Validation
Towns M*, Lindsay S, Arbour-Nicitopoulos K, Mansfield A, Wright FV. (2020). Balance confidence and physical activity participation of independently ambulatory youth with cerebral palsy: an exploration of youths’ and parents’ perspectives. Disabil Rehabil. Early on line 2020 Nov: 1-13.
Gan C, Van’t Hooft I, Brookes N, Prasauskiene A, Wales L, Wright FV. First Stage International Validation of the Pediatric Family Needs Questionnaire (FNQ-P). Brain Injury. 2020;34:1074-83.
Measurement Concepts
Towns M*, Rosenbaum PL, Palisano RJ, Wright FV. Should the GMFCS be used outside of cerebral palsy? Dev Med Child Neurol. 2018; 60: 147-154. SRA
Ho ES**, Wright FV, Parsons J., Animated Analysis: Drawing deeper analytical insights from qualitative data. International Journal of Qualitative Methods. Early on line 2021 Feb: 1-7
Lokomat Robotic Gait Training
Wiart L, Rosychuk R, Wright V. Evaluation of the effectiveness of robotic gait training and gait focused physical therapy programs for children and youth with cerebral palsy: A mixed methods RCT. BMC Neurol. 2016; 16(86): 1-10. SRA
Hilderley A*, Fehlings D, Lee G, Wright V. Comparison of a program of robotic-assisted gait training therapy with a functional gait training program for children with cerebral palsy: Design and methods of a two group randomized controlled cross-over trial. SpringerOpen 2016. in print(5): 1886. SRA
Phelan S*, Gibson BE, Wright FV. What is it like to walk with the help of a robot? Children’s perspectives on robotic gait training technology. Disabil Rehabil. 2015; 37: 2272-81
Physical Activity Participation and Physical Literacy Programs
Orr K**, Wright FV, Grassman V**, McPherson A, Faulkner GE, Arbour-Nicitopoulos KP. Children and youth with impairments in social skills and cognition in out-of-school time inclusive physical activity programs: a scoping review. Int J Dev Disabil. 2021;67:79-93
Orr K**, Arbour-Nicitopoulos K, Smith BM, Wright FV. The café talk: An example of how to develop a creative non-fiction. Qual Res Sport Exerc Health. Early on line 2020; Nov: 1-16.SRA
Arbour-Nicitopoulos K, Boross-Harmer A, Leo J, Allison A, Bremner R, Wright FV. Igniting Fitness Possibilities: a case study of an inclusive community-based physical activity program for youth. Leisure. 2018;42(1): 62-92.
