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Effects of Intensive versus Non-Intensive Physical Therapy on Children with Cerebral Palsy
M A Rahman1, M M Zaman, M M Rahman
1Dr Mohammad Azizur Rahman, Registrar, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR), Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH), Mymensingh, Bangladesh;
Insights
Physical therapy effectively improves gross motor function (GMF) in children with Cerebral Palsy (CP). Intensive physical therapy yields better results, especially for spastic CP, with earlier intervention showing the most significant benefits.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a leading cause of childhood disability, characterized by motor impairments due to immature brain damage.
- Gross Motor Function (GMF) development is crucial, particularly in children under three, influencing fine motor skills.
- Physical therapy is a primary intervention for managing GMF in children with CP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness of short-term intensive versus non-intensive physical therapy on GMF development in children with CP.
- To evaluate the impact of early intervention on GMF outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88) to assess GMF development.
- Compared outcomes between intensive and non-intensive physical therapy regimens.
- Focused on children diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.
Main Results:
- Physical therapy interventions demonstrated significant effectiveness in improving GMF.
- Intensive physical therapy proved more beneficial than non-intensive therapy for children with spastic CP.
- Earlier initiation of physical therapy correlated with more favorable GMF outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Physical therapy is a vital component in enhancing GMF for children with CP.
- Intensive and early physical therapy interventions are recommended for optimal GMF development in children with CP, particularly those with spastic CP.
Abstract:
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is one of the most common causes of all childhood disorders. There are tone, posture and movements difficulty due to non-progressive damage to the immature brain in CP. The hallmark of CP is a disability in the development of gross motor function (GMF). The influence of gross motor development on fine motor development is more important in early developmental period, specially under three years old and in children with CP. Various therapeutic interventions have been used in the management of GMF development. Among them physical therapy is the most common intervention in CP and is usually a component of mandated programs. Physical therapy means physical stimulations in the form of various therapeutic exercises, touch, massage, limbs and trunk movement, balancing and coordination training, gait and ambulation training, cognitive stimulation as well as speech, language and occupational therapy. Our study focused to see the effect by short term intensive versus non-intensive physical therapy on children GMF development by using gross motor function measure (GMFM) Score sheet, GMFM-88, version 1.0. Study provides the information that physical therapy intervention is effective in GMF development and intensive interventions are more effective in children with spastic CP than non-intensive one. Study also inform that the more early treatment the more effective result.
