Efficacy of Intensive Neurodevelopmental Treatment for Children With Developmental Delay, With or Without Cerebral...

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Developmental delay (DD) and cerebral palsy (CP) significantly impact gross motor function in children.
• Effective therapeutic interventions are crucial for improving motor outcomes in this population.
• Neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT) is a common approach, but its intensive application requires evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of an intensive neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT) program on gross motor function in children with developmental delay (DD).
• To compare the effectiveness of intensive NDT versus conventional NDT in children with DD, with or without cerebral palsy (CP).
• To evaluate treatment compliance and the maintenance of functional gains.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 42 children with DD (with or without CP) underwent a 3-month intensive NDT program (3x weekly, 60 min/day).
• This was followed by a 3-month conventional NDT program (1-2x weekly, 30 min/day).
• Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) was used for assessments at baseline, post-intensive NDT, and post-conventional NDT.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in GMFM scores were observed in children with DD following intensive NDT, with gains maintained after conventional NDT (p<0.05).
• Both subgroups (DD with CP and DD without CP) demonstrated significant and sustained improvements post-intensive NDT (p<0.05).
• Compliance, measured by absence rates, was higher during the intensive NDT phase compared to conventional NDT.

Conclusions:

• Intensive NDT is a highly effective intervention for enhancing gross motor function in children with DD, regardless of CP co-occurrence.
• The observed functional improvements are durable and can be sustained with subsequent conventional NDT.
• The day-hospital model for intensive NDT is recommended due to its superior efficacy and compliance rates.