SPARK - Publications

Little boy in library playing with a computer tablet.

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.

Click to see Dr. Wright's publications on PubMed.

Hot off the Press (2023)

Wright FV, Wright A, Bauve C, Evans K. (2023). Getting into the game: evaluation of the reliability, validity and utility of the Ignite Challenge scale for school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder. Disabil Rehabil. early on line Apr 23: 1-17.

Ryan JL*, Zhou C*, Levac DE, Fehlings DL, Beal DS,Hung R, Wright FV. (2023). Change in gross motor function with inpatient rehabilitation for children and youth with acquired brain injury: A 10-year retrospective review. Dev Med Child Neurol. 65: 953-960

Arbour-Nicitopolous K, Bremer E, Leo J, Wright FV. (2023). A pragmatic approach to measuring physical literacy and behavioural outcomes in youth with and without disabilities.Leisure. 47(2): 209-233.

Hilderley A*, Wright FV, Taylor MJ, Chen JL, Fehlings D. (2023). Functional neuroplasticity and motor skill change following gross motor interventions for children with diplegic cerebral palsy. Neurorehabil Neurol Rep. 37(1): 16-26.

Chagas PSC*, Rosenbaum P, Wright FV, Pritchard L, Wright M, Martins A, Camargos ACR, Longo E, Leite H. (2023). Development of the Gross Motor Function Family Report (GMF-FR) for Children with Cerebral Palsy". Physiother Canada. 75(1): 83-91.

Lindsay S, Ragunathan S, Kingsnorth S, *Zhou C, Kakonge L, Cermak C, Hickling A, Wright FV. (2023). Understanding the benefits of challenges of outpatient virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic in a Canadian pediatric rehabilitation hospital. Disabil Rehabil. Early on line Jun 10: 1-9.

O'Rourke R*, Orr K*, Renwick R, Wright FV. Naronha J, Bobbie K, Arbour-Nicitopoulos K. (2023). The value of incorporating inclusive sports in schools: An exploration of Unified Sport experiences. Adapt Phys Act Quart. Early on line Jan 1: 1-20

Selected Peer-Reviewed Publications

Advanced Motor Skills Measurement Development and Validation

Milascevic M*, Wright FV, Milǒsevícc M, Neubauer D. (2022). Measuring advanced motor skills in children with cerebral palsy: development of normative data and percentile curves for the Challenge-20 assessment. Int J Rehabil Res. early on line Sep12: 1-7.

Tanel MR*, Gupta C*, Wilson KE, Murphy J, Wright FV, Reed N. (2022). The Concussion Challenge Assessment: Development and reliability of a novel gross motor assessment tool for paediatric concussion. Front Sports Act Living. early online 14 Dec: 1-11

Nordbye-Neilson K*, Rahbek O, Wright FV, Maribo T. (2022). Reliability and Minimal Detectable Change of the Challenge, an Advanced Motor Skills Test for Children with Cerebral Palsy, Danish version. Disabil Rehabil. 44: 4485-4492.

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. 2021;41 (4): 372-389.

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

Ryan J*, Beal DS, Levac DE, Fehlings DL, Wright FV. (2023). Integrating Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation into an Existing Inpatient Physiotherapy Program to Enhance Motor Learning in an Adolescent with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Case Report. Phys Occup Ther Pediatr. Early on line Jan 9: 1-19.

Hilderley AJ*, Fehlings D, Chen JL, Wright FV. (2022). BeFAST or BeSTRONG: a randomized feasibility trial comparing sports skills training to lower-limb strength training for children with cerebral palsy. Disabil Rehabil. 44(13): 3039-304.

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

Giancolo J*, McWilliam K*, Wright FV, Ryan J*. (2022). Exploring Motor Learning Strategies Use in Occupational Therapy for Children and Youth with Acquired Brain Injury. Phys Occup Ther Pediatr. 42: 30-45.

Spivak MR*, Chan JR*, Cooper MS*, Petrucci C*, Sheridan AM*, Tang TY*, Wright FV, Ryan J*. (2021). 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. 73: 381–390.

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.

New Measurement Development/Validation

Ho E*, Parsons J, Davidge K, Howard C, Lawson M, Wright FV. (2022). Developing a Decision Aid for Youth with Brachial Plexus Birth Injuries Facing Treatment Decisions for an Elbow Flexion Contracture. Phys Med Rehabil. 14: 971-986.

Nguyen T, Tillbrook A, Sandelance M, Wright FV. (2021). The Switch Access Measure: Development and evaluation of the reliability and clinical utility of a switching assessment for children with severe and multiple disabilities. Disabil Rehabil: Assist Tech. early on line Apr 6: 1-12.

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

Weissman SE*, Perinpanayagam R*, Wright FV, Arbour-Nicitopoulos KA ,. (2022). Application of the behaviour change technique taxonomy (BCTTv1) to an inclusive physical literacy-based sportprogram for children and youth. Int J Sport Sci Coach. 17: 18-36.

Ganz F*, Wright FV, Manns PJ, Pritchard L. (2022). Is physical activity-related self-efficacy associated with moderate to vigorous physical activity and sedentary behaviour among children with cerebral palsy?. Physiother Can. 74: 151-157.

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.

SPARK - Publications

Hot off the Press (2023)

Selected Peer-Reviewed Publications

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