Effect of crawling training on the cognitive function of children with cerebral palsy

Yan Bai1, Meng-Ying Gao1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics.

Insights

Crawling training significantly improves cognitive function and motor skills in children with cerebral palsy. This therapy enhances crawling ability, language, intelligence, memory, and attention, showing high clinical efficacy.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pediatrics
  • Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

  • Cerebral palsy (CP) presents significant challenges in motor and cognitive development.
  • Effective therapeutic interventions are crucial for improving functional outcomes in children with CP.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the influence of crawling training on the cognitive function of patients with cerebral palsy.
  • To compare the clinical efficacy of crawling training versus standard movement training in children with CP.

Main Methods:

  • A comparative study involving 36 patients with cerebral palsy in the experimental group (crawling training) and 32 in the control group (normal movement training).
  • Evaluated crawling function, cognitive and language abilities, intelligence (IQ/DQ), memory, and attention before and after interventions using standardized scales.

Main Results:

  • Crawling training demonstrated significantly higher total treatment efficiency (94.44%) compared to normal movement training (71.87%).
  • Both groups showed improvements in crawling, cognitive/language functions, intelligence, and attention post-treatment.
  • The experimental group exhibited significantly greater improvements across all assessed domains compared to the control group.

Conclusions:

  • Crawling training is highly effective in improving motor, cognitive, and language functions in children with cerebral palsy.
  • This therapeutic approach enhances intelligence, memory, and attention, indicating significant clinical value for CP rehabilitation.