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The Role of Regular Physical Therapy on Spasticity in Children With Cerebral Palsy

Heewon Lee1, Eun Kyung Kim1, Dong Baek Son1

  • 1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Suwon, Korea.

Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
|July 18, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Disrupting physical therapy (PT) for children with cerebral palsy (CP) worsens spasticity and reduces ankle range of motion (ROM). Consistent PT is vital for maintaining joint mobility in pediatric CP patients.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pediatrics
  • Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

  • Cerebral palsy (CP) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder affecting movement and posture.
  • Spasticity, a hallmark of CP, significantly impacts motor function and quality of life.
  • Physical therapy (PT) is a cornerstone intervention for managing spasticity and improving function in children with CP.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of physical therapy (PT) on spasticity in pediatric patients diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP).
  • To quantify the extent of spasticity worsening when regular PT is temporarily halted in children with CP.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 35 children with spastic CP underwent serial Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS) assessments.
  • Ankle joint range of motion (ROM), specifically dorsiflexion (R1 and R2), was measured before and after a 10-day interruption of PT.
  • Measurements were taken with the knee in both flexion and extension positions.

Main Results:

  • A significant decrease in ankle dorsiflexion ROM (R1 and R2) was observed after the PT interruption, irrespective of knee position, age, or gross motor function.
  • The dynamic component of spasticity (R2-R1) showed a marginal reduction when the knee was in flexion.

Conclusions:

  • Interruption of consistent physical therapy (PT) exacerbates spasticity and diminishes ankle joint range of motion (ROM) in children with cerebral palsy (CP).
  • These findings underscore the critical role of continuous PT within the care framework for children with CP to preserve ankle joint mobility and function.
Abstract

Keywords:
Ankle jointCerebral palsyMuscle spasticityPhysical therapyRange of motion

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