Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 21, 2025
Author Spotlight: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined with Movement Observation in Cerebral Palsy
Published on: August 9, 2024
Optimal frequency of physical therapy in young children with cerebral palsy: a retrospective pilot study
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam-si, South Korea.
Insights
High-frequency physical therapy (PT) significantly improved gross motor function in young children with cerebral palsy (CP). This approach is particularly beneficial for children under 36 months and those who are ambulatory.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders affecting movement and posture, necessitating tailored rehabilitation strategies.
- Optimizing the frequency of physical therapy (PT) is crucial for maximizing functional outcomes in children with CP.
- Current evidence on the optimal PT frequency for pediatric CP populations remains limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the optimal frequency of physical therapy (PT) for enhancing gross motor function in young children diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP).
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis was conducted on 23 children with CP who received both low- and high-frequency PT.
- The Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88) was utilized to assess changes in gross motor function before and after each PT frequency.
- Patient data included age (mean 47.30 ± 31.95 months) and ambulatory status.
Main Results:
- High-frequency PT demonstrated statistically significant improvements in GMFM-88 scores compared to low-frequency PT.
- Children under 36 months of age exhibited greater GMFM-88 score improvements with high-frequency PT than older children.
- Ambulatory children showed more substantial gains in gross motor function during high-frequency PT compared to non-ambulatory children.
Conclusions:
- High-frequency PT appears to be a beneficial intervention for improving gross motor function in children with CP, especially those under 36 months.
- The findings suggest that high-frequency PT can enhance standing and gait abilities in ambulatory children with CP.
Purpose:
To determine the optimal frequency of physical therapy (PT) in young children with cerebral palsy (CP).
Methods:
Twenty-three children (mean age, 47.30 ± 31.95 months) with CP who had undergone both low- and high-frequency PT in an outpatient rehabilitation clinic were analyzed retrospectively. The Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88) score was assessed before and after low- and high-frequency PT.
Results:
The high-frequency PT group showed statistically significant improvements of GMFM-88 compared to the low-frequency PT group. In the high-frequency PT group, the improvement in total GMFM-88 scores was greater in children below 36 months of age than in children above 36 months of age. Moreover, the ambulatory group showed greater improvement compared to the non-ambulatory group during high-frequency PT.
Conclusions:
High-frequency PT might benefit gross motor function in children with CP up to 36 months of age. High-frequency PT resulted in improved standing and gait function in the ambulatory group.
