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Improving postural symmetry: The effectiveness of the CATCH (Combined Approach to Treatment for Children with
Holly Holland1, Kerry Blazek1, Margo Prim Haynes2
1Rehabilitation Therapies, University of North Carolina Health Care, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Insights
Children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (hCP) showed improved postural symmetry after the Combined Approach to Treatment for Children with Hemiplegia (CATCH) protocol. Post-intervention, their symmetry approached that of typically developing peers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric rehabilitation
- Neuroscience
- Biomechanical analysis
Background:
- Hemiplegic cerebral palsy (hCP) often affects postural control.
- Limited research exists on the impact of intensive, combined therapy protocols on postural symmetry in hCP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate postural symmetry in sitting and standing for children with hCP.
- To assess the effectiveness of the Combined Approach to Treatment for Children with Hemiplegia (CATCH) protocol.
Main Methods:
- 10 children with hCP and 10 typically developing peers participated.
- An 8-day CATCH camp involved intensive therapy (Constraint Induced Movement Therapy, Bimanual Intensive Therapy, Neuro-Developmental Treatment).
- Postural symmetry was measured using a pressure-mapping system at four time points.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements in sitting and standing postural symmetry were observed in children with hCP post-intervention (p<0.05).
- One month after the CATCH camp, children with hCP demonstrated postural symmetry comparable to their typically developing peers.
Conclusions:
- The CATCH protocol effectively enhances postural symmetry in children with hCP.
- Postural symmetry improvements persist and approach age-matched levels one month post-intervention.
Purpose:
To evaluate postural symmetry in sitting and standing for children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (hCP) following the Combined Approach to Treatment for Children with Hemiplegia (CATCH) protocol, an intervention combining Constraint Induced Movement Therapy, Bimanual Intensive Therapy and Neuro-Developmental Treatment.
Methods:
The study included 10 children with a diagnosis of hCP and 10 typically developing age-matched peers. Subjects participated in a CATCH camp for six hours daily for eight consecutive days. Postural symmetry measurements in quiet sitting and standing were obtained using a Boditrak pressure-mapping system at four time points: prior to start of camp (T1), first day of camp (T2), last day of camp (T3), and one month post-camp (T4).
Results:
Significant differences (p< 0.05) were found in quiet sitting when comparing postural symmetry pre-intervention and one-month post camp. In quiet standing, significant differences (p< 0.05) were found when pre-intervention was compared to one-month post-intervention. One month post-intervention, the intervention group showed no significant difference from the comparison group.
Conclusions:
Children with hCP demonstrate improvement in postural symmetry in sitting and standing following participation in a CATCH camp. Following the intervention, children with hCP continued to improve postural symmetry and approach age-matched peers.
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