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[Effect of acupuncture on early cerebral palsy infants with parafunctional sitting position: a multi-centre,
Insights
Development theory-based acupuncture significantly improved sitting posture in infants with cerebral palsy (CP). This approach enhanced muscle strength and motor function compared to traditional head acupuncture.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) often affects motor development, impacting sitting posture and muscle function in infants.
- Parafunctional sitting positions are common challenges in early CP management.
- Effective interventions are crucial for improving motor outcomes in infants with CP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture based on infant development theory for infants with CP exhibiting parafunctional sitting positions.
- To compare the effects of development theory-based acupuncture with head acupuncture in improving sitting function and muscle activity.
Main Methods:
- 120 infants with early CP were randomized into two groups: treatment (development theory-based acupuncture) and control (head acupuncture).
- Both groups received acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training.
- Sitting function was assessed using the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) 88, and muscle activity was measured using surface electromyography (sEMG).
Main Results:
- Acupuncture significantly improved sitting function in both groups, with greater improvements observed in the treatment group (P<0.01).
- The treatment group showed decreased latissimus dorsi and increased erector spinae muscle activity (P<0.01) compared to the control group.
- The overall effective rate was higher in the treatment group (89.29%) than in the control group (77.78%, P<0.05).
Conclusions:
- Acupuncture guided by infant development theory is effective in enhancing dorsi-extensor muscle strength in infants with CP.
- This therapeutic approach significantly improves the sitting position and motor function of infants aged 8 months to 1 year with CP and parafunctional sitting.
- Development theory-based acupuncture offers a promising non-pharmacological intervention for managing sitting difficulties in infants with cerebral palsy.
Objective:
To study the clinical effect of development theory based acupuncture on early cerebral palsy (CP) infants with parafunctional sitting position.
Methods:
Totally 120 early CP infants were randomly assigned to two groups equally, the treatment group and the control group. All received acupuncture combined with training rehabilitation. Patients in the treatment group adopted acupuncture based on infants development theory, while those in the control group were treated by head acupuncture. Sitting functional points in Gross motor function measure (GMFM) 88 were observed in different groups and infant patients of various types before and after treatment. Root mean square (RMS) signals of sitting correlated muscles (latissimus dorsi, erector spinae, rectus abdominis) were recorded by surface electromyography (sEMG). The effective rate was evaluated by Nimodipine method.
Results:
Compared with before treatment, sitting functional points were significantly improved in the two groups (P<0.01). After treatment, it was higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.01). The advance amplitude was higher in CP infants of the spastic type and the hypotonic type than other types (P<0.01). Along with sitting process, latissimus dorsi RMS signals were gradually tapered, erector spinae RMS signals were gradually enhanced, and rectus abdominis RMS signals were slightly weakened. Compared with the control group, latissimus dorsi RMS signals obviously decreased, and erector spinae RMS signals obviously increased in the treatment group after treatment (all P<0.01). The total effective rate was higher in the treatment group than in the control group (89.29% vs. 77.78%, P<0.05).
Conclusion:
Infants development theory based acupuncture could effectively elevate dorsi-extensor muscles force, improve sitting position of 8 months to 1 year old CP infants with parafunctional sitting position.
