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The effects of traditional massage on spasticity of children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial
Qamar Mahmood1, Shaista Habibullah1, Muhammad Naveed Babur2
1National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (NIRM), Islamabad, Pakistan.
Insights
Traditional massage significantly reduced spasticity in children with cerebral palsy, particularly on the right side. This therapy, combined with physical therapy, offers a promising approach for managing spasticity in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Neurology
- Physical Therapy
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder affecting movement and posture.
- Spasticity is a primary motor disorder in children with CP, impacting motor function and quality of life.
- Traditional massage is a complementary therapy with potential benefits for muscle tone and flexibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of traditional massage as an adjunct to routine physical therapy for reducing spasticity in children with cerebral palsy.
- To compare the effects of traditional massage plus physical therapy versus physical therapy alone on spasticity levels.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving children aged 2-10 years with spastic cerebral palsy.
- Participants were allocated to either a control group (routine physical therapy) or an intervention group (routine physical therapy + traditional massage).
- Spasticity was measured using the Modified Ashworth Scale at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks.
Main Results:
- A total of 75 children completed the study, with no significant baseline differences between groups.
- The intervention group showed a statistically significant reduction in spasticity scores in the right upper limb at 6 weeks (p<0.05).
- A significant reduction in spasticity was observed in the right lower limb at 12 weeks (p<0.05) in the intervention group.
Conclusions:
- Traditional massage, when added to routine physical therapy, demonstrates a significant positive effect on reducing spasticity in children with cerebral palsy.
- The benefits were particularly noted on the right side of the body, suggesting targeted application potential.
- This study supports the integration of traditional massage into rehabilitation programs for pediatric cerebral palsy.
Objective:
To examine the effects of traditional massage on spasticity of children with cerebral palsy.
Methods:
The randomised control trial was conducted at the National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Islamabad, Pakistan, from September 2016 to August 2018, and comprised children with spastic cerebral palsy aged 2-10 years who were randomly allocated to control and intervention groups. Both the groups received routine physical therapy once daily, five times a week for three months. The intervention group additionally received traditional massage. Spasticity was evaluated using the Modified Ashworth Scale at baseline, and after 6th and 12th weeks of intervention. Data analysed using SPSS 20..
Results:
Of the 86 subjects enrolled, 75(87.2%) completed the study; 37(49.3%) in the control group with a mean age of 6.81±2.31 years, and 38(50.6%) in the intervention group with a mean age of 7.05±2.47 years. There were 25(68%) boys among the controls and 22(58%) in the intervention group. There was no statistically significant difference in baseline scores between the groups (p>0.05). At 6th week, reduction in scores was statistically significant in the right upper limb (p<0.05), and in the right lower limb (p<0.05) after the 12th week.
Conclusions:
Traditional massage was found to have significant effect on the right side compared to the routine physical therapy for reduction of spasticity in children with cerebral palsy.
