Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 26, 2025
Enhancing the Development and Growth of Infant Cerebral Palsy Rats Using Selective Spinal Manipulations
Published on: February 2, 2024
How Did the Lockdown Imposed Due to COVID-19 Affect Patients With Cerebral Palsy?
Bilinc Dogruoz Karatekin1, Afitap İcagasioglu, Seyma Nur Sahin
1Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic (Drs Dogruoz Karatekin, Sahin, Kacar, and Bayram), Istanbul Medeniyet University, Goztepe Prof Dr Suleyman Yalcin City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Dr İcagasioglu), Istanbul Medeniyet University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted children with cerebral palsy, worsening their mobility, function, and pain. Telemedicine follow-ups are recommended to mitigate these adverse effects in pediatric rehabilitation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Neurology
- Public Health
Background:
- The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic disrupted essential healthcare services for children with cerebral palsy.
- Treatment and follow-up evaluations were significantly affected, leading to potential negative health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on the mobility, pain, functional status, and spasticity in children with cerebral palsy.
- To assess changes in these parameters following a period of restricted healthcare access.
Main Methods:
- One hundred ten children with cerebral palsy were evaluated retrospectively.
- Data collected included pain levels, spasticity severity, botulinum toxin administration timing, and home exercise adherence.
- Functional status was measured using the Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM).
Main Results:
- Significant worsening was observed in WeeFIM self-care and mobility subscale scores, as well as overall scores.
- Pain complaints increased from 5 to 29 participants post-lockdown.
- Delayed botulinum toxin administration correlated with increased pain and spasticity severity.
Conclusions:
- The study highlights the detrimental effects of the pandemic on children with cerebral palsy.
- Short-interval telemedicine follow-ups and necessary in-hospital visits are crucial for managing these patients effectively.
Background:
The novel coronavirus infection (SARS-CoV-2) caused disruption of the treatment and follow-up evaluations of children with cerebral palsy.
Aim:
The change in mobility, pain, functional status, and spasticity was investigated who were followed in a pediatric rehabilitation unit after the lockdown.
Methods:
One hundred ten children were evaluated. Pain, severity of spasticity, botulinum toxin administration dates, and continuity of home exercises were recorded. The functional status was evaluated with the Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM).
Results:
The WeeFIM self-care and mobility subscale scores and total scores were significantly worse. Only 5 of the participants had pain in the previous evaluations; in the last evaluation, 29 had pain complaints. The pain and spasticity severity of the participants whose botulinum toxin administration was delayed were significantly increased.
Conclusions:
The children with cerebral palsy should be followed with telemedicine at short intervals, and when necessary, in the hospital.
