scholarly journals Motor learning-based activities may improve functional ability in adults with severe cerebral palsy: A controlled pilot study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Helle Hüche Larsen ◽  
Rasmus Feld Frisk ◽  
Maria Willerslev-Olsen ◽  
Jens Bo Nielsen

BACKGROUND: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurodevelopmental disturbance characterized by impaired control of movement. Function often decreases and 15% of adults are classified as severely affected (Gross Motor Function Classification Scale III-V). Little is known about interventions that aim to improve functional abilities in this population. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a 12-week intervention based on motor learning principles on functional ability in adults with severe CP. METHODS: 16 adults (36±10 years, GMFCS III-V) were enrolled and divided into an intervention group (Active group) and a standard care group (Control group). Primary outcome measure was Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88). Secondary measures were neurological status. The Active group were measured at baseline, after the intervention and at one-month follow-up. The Control group were measured at baseline and after one month. RESULTS: Analysis showed statistically significant improvement in GMFM-88 for the Active group from baseline to post assessment compared with the Control group (group difference: 5 points, SE 14.5, p = 0.008, CI: 1.2 to 8.7). Improvements were maintained at follow-up. Results from the neurological screening showed no clear tendencies. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides support that activities based on motor learning principles may improve gross motor function in adults with severe CP.

2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (01) ◽  
pp. 21-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael E. Hahn ◽  
Sheri L. Simkins ◽  
Jacob K. Gardner ◽  
Gaurav Kaushik

The study's aim was to determine the initial effects of a dynamic seating system as a therapeutic intervention in children with cerebral palsy. A two-factor, repeated-measures design was used. Twelve children with neuromuscular dysfunction (mean age 6.0, SD 2.7 years) were included in the study, randomly assigned to an experimental or a control group. At study initiation the experimental group received a wheelchair with dynamic seating components that allows limited range of motion in the hip and knee, and the control group received a static setting wheelchair. Participants were evaluated for range of motion, muscle spasticity (Modified Ashworth Scale), motor function (Gross Motor Function Measure), and level of disability (Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory) at study initiation, 3-months, and 6-months post intervention. Both groups improved in motor function over time, particularly in the categories of Sitting and Crawl/Kneel. Measures of disability improved in both groups for the categories of self-care, mobility, and social function. A larger, more homogeneous sample would likely show significant group differences in measures of muscle spasticity, gross motor function and disability.


Children ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 64
Author(s):  
Young-a Jeong ◽  
Byoung-Hee Lee

This study evaluated the effect of action observation training on spasticity, gross motor function, and balance in children with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy. Eighteen children with cerebral palsy participated in this study. The participants were randomized into the action observation training group (n = 9) and a control group (n = 9). The action observation training group repeatedly practiced the action with their motor skills, while the control group practiced conventional physical therapy. Both groups received 30 min sessions, 3 days a week, for 6 weeks. To confirm the effects of intervention, the spasticity, gross motor function measurement (GMFM), and pediatric reaching test (PRT) were evaluated. The results showed that in the plantar flexor contracture test of both sides, the Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS) of the right side of knee joints, GMFM-B, C, and D were significantly increased between pre- and post-intervention within both groups (p < 0.05). PRT was significantly increased between pre- and post-intervention within the both groups (p < 0.05), and there was a significant difference between the two groups (p < 0.05). These results suggest that action observation training is both feasible and beneficial for improving spasticity, gross motor function, and balance in children with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy.


2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 704-710 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamis W Pin ◽  
Penelope B Butler

Objectives: To investigate the feasibility and potential efficacy of a six-week interactive computer play training on balance and gross motor function in children with moderate cerebral palsy. Design: A pilot single-blinded matched randomized controlled study. Setting: Community. Participants: In total, 18 children with moderate cerebral palsy were recruited, paired according to age and severity of cerebral palsy and randomized into intervention group or control group. Intervention: The intervention group received additional trunk control training using the interactive computer play in sitting four times per week, 20 minutes per session for six weeks. All study children continued their usual physiotherapy programme. Measurements: All study children were assessed at baseline, week 3, week 6 (completion of intervention) and week 12 using the Pediatric Reach Test, Gross Motor Function Measure–66-Item Set and 2-Minute Walk Test. Results: All intervention children completed and enjoyed the training with no reported adverse event. All children were assessed at all time points. No significant difference was found between the two groups in all assessments. In both groups of children, significant improvements were found in the Gross Motor Function Measure–66-Item Set between week 3 (intervention group: mean 53.41, SD 5.34; control group: mean 52.86, SD 8.33) and week 6 (intervention group: mean 55.00, SD 6.32; control group: mean 54.20, SD 8.35). Conclusion: The intervention protocol of a six-week interactive computer play training was feasible and safe for children with moderate cerebral palsy in special school settings. Future studies with larger sample sizes or using single-subject designs are recommended.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha J. Ballington ◽  
Rowena Naidoo

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common motor disability in childhood. Children with CP are more likely to have lower levels of physical activity than their peers, which has negative implications for their health. However, aquatic exercise can be used to improve levels of fitness among children with CP.Objective: To determine the carry-over effect of an aquatic-based programme (postural control and balance) on land (walking, running and jumping) in children with CP, post aquatic intervention.Method: The study used a pretest-post-test, randomised group, cross-over design. Children aged 8–12 years (n = 10) were divided into intervention (n = 5) and control (n = 5) groups. The intervention group participated in two 30-min sessions a week, while the control group continued with normal activities. Pre- and post-intervention testing was conducted using gross motor function measurement. The 10-point programme of the Halliwick Concept was used.Results: Results demonstrated that the aquatic therapy had a significant effect on gross motor function scores. The aquatic programme-based group showed increased motor function following the intervention, compared to the control group (z = -2.803, p = 0.005). Furthermore, the aquatic-based therapy improved the average score for gross motor function measurement, post-intervention.Conclusion: Together with conventional modes of therapy, aquatic-based programmes should be integrated and considered as an essential, ongoing mode of treatment for children with CP, in order to ensure long-term gross motor function improvements.


2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 721-728 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chia-ling Chen ◽  
Chung-yao Chen ◽  
Hsieh-ching Chen ◽  
Wen-yu Liu ◽  
I-hsuan Shen ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qamar Mahmood ◽  
Dr. Shaista Habibullah ◽  
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Naveed Babur

Objective: To evaluate the effects of traditional massage (TM) on spasticity and gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: This randomized control trial (RCT) was conducted with recruitment of 86 children (Dropped out= 11; Analyzed= 75) with spastic CP (diplegia) allocated randomly through sealed envelope method to intervention and control group with ages between 2-10 years from September 2016 to August 2018. Both groups received conventional physical therapy (CPT) once daily, five times a week for a period of three months. However, intervention group received TM additionally. Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88) and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) were used to evaluate spasticity and gross motor function at the beginning, after six and 12 weeks of intervention. Data were compared and analyzed through SPSS-20. Results: Mean age in control and intervention group was 6.81±2.31 and 7.05±2.47 years respectively. No statistically significant differences in MAS, GMFM and GMFCS scores were found at base line. The children in intervention group showed statistically significant reduction in MAS scores in all four limbs after six and 12 weeks of intervention (p < 0.05) in comparison with the control group. However, GMFM scores and GMFCS levels did not change significantly in intervention group as compared to control group. Conclusion: It is concluded that TM can effectively reduce the spasticity, does not have harmful effects, so can be administered safely by mothers at home and making it suitable for the management of spastic CP. However, in order to achieve better gross motor function, it should be practiced in conjunction with CPT, functional skills and task oriented approaches. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.5.478 How to cite this:Mahmood Q, Habibullah S, Babur MN. Potential effects of traditional massage on spasticity and gross motor function in children with spastic cerebral palsy: A randomized controlled trial. Pak J Med Sci. 2019;35(5):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.5.478 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Yingqian Zhang ◽  
Jing Wu ◽  
Nong Xiao ◽  
Bo Li

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) has been used for the treatment of cerebral palsy for more than 20 years, but its efficacy and safety are still controversial. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we evaluated the currently promulgated data related to the efficacy of HBO for patients with cerebral palsy. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We searched the PubMed/Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang databases (from their inception to April 2020) for randomized controlled trials published in English or Chinese. Two researchers used the Cochrane Collaboration tool for data extraction and an independent quality assessment. The extracted data were analyzed by Review Manager 5.3 software. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A total of 25 studies consistent with the inclusion criteria were included, with a total of 2,146 people, which included 1,185 participants in the HBO group and 961 in the control group. This meta-analysis showed that when compared with the controls, HBO therapy can improve the gross motor functions evaluated by the Gross Motor Function Measure (<i>n</i> = 696, SMD 0.29, 95% CI [0.07–0.51], Z = 2.62, <i>p</i> = 0.009) and Gross Motor Function Classification System (<i>n</i> = 248, MD –0.40, 95% CI [–0.52 to –0.27], Z = 6.28, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.00001), global developmental level evaluated by Gesell (<i>n</i> = 560, RR 1.30, 95% CI [1.19–1.42], Z = 6.03, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.00001) and developmental quotient (<i>n</i> = 374, MD 8.25, 95% CI [6.48–10.01], Z = 9.15, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.00001) and language expression (<i>n</i> = 270, MD 4.34, 95% CI [2.30–6.38], Z = 4.17, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.00001) and comprehension (<i>n</i> = 270, MD 4.87, 95% CI [2.87–6.88], Z = 4.76, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.00001). HBO therapy only caused mild ear pain. However, the quality of the data for all outcomes evaluated by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation analysis was very low. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> HBO therapy may produce a much more efficient clinical experiment result than the control group with cerebral palsy patients, and HBO therapy is well tolerated and relatively safe for the included participants.


Author(s):  
Balgayeva Maira ◽  
Bulekbayeva Sholpan

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of combined use of robotic kinesiotherapy and botulinum therapy in the complex rehabilitation of children with spastic diplegia.Methods: In the research, 162 children were participated in the age from 4 to 6 years with spastic diplegia. The main group was carried out using robotic kinesiotherapy with the help of the Lokomat complex and intramuscular injection of botulinum toxin type A (BtA), as a part of complex rehabilitation. Children from the control group received rehabilitative treatment with traditional methods.Results: During the comparative study of groups, higher results were obtained in the main group, where average according to Gross Motor Function Measure 88 increased from 69.99 to 76.41 with a difference of 6.42 points (p=0.0001). In the control group, this indicator increased from 67.01 to 69.41 with a difference of 2.4 points. In the main group, a moderate coupling was noticed between overall motor activity improvement and muscle tone improvement (rs=0.411, p=0.001). Herewith, the correlation was pronounced more with children of the III level in Gross Motor Function Classification System (rs=0.483, p=0.002) in comparison with the II development level (rs=0.304, p=0.042).Conclusion: Research results indicated that the children with spastic diplegia have significant improvement in motor characteristics when the combined applying of robotic walking and botulinum therapy compared with conventional therapy. In our opinion, the data obtained allow to recommend this method as one of the perspective methods of rehabilitation treatment for children with spastic forms of cerebral palsy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-114
Author(s):  
Sema Özandaç Polat ◽  
Ahmet Hilmi Yücel ◽  
Gonca İnce

SummaryStudy aim: This study was performed to investigate the effects of an eight-week multi-model sport activity home programme on function of children with cerebral palsy.Material and methods: The study included 44 patients (11 girls, and 33 boys) aged between 4 and 11 years, having spastic diplegic and hemiplegic cerebral palsy, and receiving physical treatment from the rehabilitation centre. The 44 patients were divided into two groups each consisting of 22 children as the experimental group and control group. The mean age, height and weight were 8.27 ± 2.10 years, 123.36 ± 17.33 cm and 25.45 ± 8.87 kg in the experimental group, while the same parameters were 7.27 ± 2.80 years, 109.36 ± 16.99 cm and 20.20 ± 7.16 kg in the control group. Before taking measurements, the consent forms were signed by the families of patients with CP. The physical therapy programme based on the Bobath NDT method which took forty minutes was applied to both groups two days per week. Also, the multi-model sport activity home programme which took 50 minutes was applied regularly during eight weeks and five days a week in the Experimental Group. The Impact on Family Scale, the Gross Motor Function Classification System, the Gross Motor Function Measure, One Minute Walk Test, the time standing on the left and right foot, and Visual Pain Analog Scale were evaluated before and after the eight-week multi-model sport activity home programme.Results: There were no significant differences in some measurements including the Gross Motor Function Classification System, the Gross Motor Function Measure, One Minute Walk Test, and the time standing on the left and right foot. A significant difference was found only in the Visual Pain Analog Scale (p = 0.003).Conclusion: The effects of the eight-week multi-model sport activity home programme can contribute to a decrease in pain level of children with cerebral palsy.


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