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Daily Outpatient Physical Therapy for a Toddler With a Neurodegenerative Disease: A Case Report
Rachel Bican1, Rachel Ferrante, Sarah Hendershot
1Division of Physical Therapy (Drs Bican and Heathcock), School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, Nationwide Children's Hospital (Drs Ferrante, Hendershot, and Lo and Ms Byars), Columbus, Ohio.
Insights
High-dose physical therapy (PT) may improve development in children with neurodegenerative diseases. This case report shows significant gains in motor, cognitive, and language skills for a toddler with TBCD gene mutations receiving daily PT.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Physical Therapy
- Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Genetics
Background:
- Neurodegenerative diseases in children present significant developmental challenges.
- Early and intensive interventions are crucial for managing progressive conditions.
- Understanding the impact of high-dose physical therapy (PT) in this population is essential.
Observation:
- A 23-month-old toddler with biallelic TBCD gene mutations was treated with daily outpatient PT.
- The intervention focused on improving gross and fine motor skills, cognition, language, socioemotional, and adaptive behaviors.
Findings:
- The child demonstrated notable clinical improvements across all assessed domains, including motor function, cognition, and language.
- Standardized assessments like Goal Attainment Scaling, Gross Motor Function Measure, and Bayley Scales confirmed these developmental gains.
- These improvements suggest a positive response to the intensive PT regimen.
Implications:
- High-dose outpatient PT can be a valuable therapeutic option for children with slowly progressing neurodegenerative diseases.
- Intensive PT may promote significant motor and functional changes, even in the context of genetic mutations affecting neurodevelopment.
- This case underscores the potential of tailored, high-intensity interventions to enhance outcomes in pediatric neurodegenerative conditions.
Purpose:
This case report highlights the potential value of delivering a high-dose physical therapy (PT) intervention for a child with a neurodegenerative disease. We include developmental outcomes for a 23-month-old toddler with biallelic TBCD gene mutations following daily outpatient PT.
Summary Of Key Points:
The child had clinical improvements in gross and fine motor, cognition, expressive and receptive language, socioemotional, and adaptive behavior function as determined through Goal Attainment Scaling, Gross Motor Function Measure, and Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development following daily PT intervention.
Statement Of Conclusion And Recommendations For Clinical Practice:
High-dose outpatient PT may be beneficial for a child with a neurodegenerative disease at some time frames. In selected cases, if the neurodegenerative disease slowly progresses, high-dose PT may be a treatment option to promote motor change.
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