Effects of 8 weeks functional training programme on posture control and functional mobility in spastic hemiplegic...

To determine the impacts of functional training versus conventional training on posture control and functional mobility in spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy children.

The randomised clinical trial was conducted at the Rehab Cure physiotherapy centre, Lahore, Pakistan, from January to September 2020, and comprised children of either gender aged 4-14 years, diagnosed with cerebral palsy, gross motor functional classification system level II or III, and no mental retardation. The subjects were randomised into conventional therapy group A and functional training group B. Intensity of exercises was gradually increased each week, starting from 10 reps to 20 reps. The subjects received treatment 3 times a week for 8 weeks, and each session lasted 45-60 min. Paediatric Balance Scale, Trunk Control Measurement Scale, Five Times Sit to Stand Test and Timed-Up-and-Go test were used at baseline and post-intervention. Data was analysed using SPSS 21.

Of the 14 subjects, there were 7(50%) in each of the two groups. Overall, there were 8(57.14%) males and 6(42.86%) females with a mean age of 7.57±1.86 years. Significant improvement was noted in both groups post-intervention (p<0.05), but intergroup differences were not significant (p>0.05).

Both functional training and conventional therapy significantly improved postural control and functional mobility in spastic cerebral palsy children, but intergroup differences were not significant.

IRCT20200909048676N1.