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Effectiveness of Sensory Integration Therapy on Functional Mobility in Children With Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy
Vaishnavi B Warutkar1, Rakesh K Kovela2, Snehal Samal1
1Physiotherapy, Ravi Nair Physiotherapy College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University), Wardha, IND.
Insights
Sensory integration therapy (SIT) combined with conventional physiotherapy significantly improved functional mobility in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP). Both treatment groups showed progress, but the combined approach yielded superior results in motor function and sensory processing.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Rehabilitation Therapy
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) encompasses non-progressive brain abnormalities affecting mobility, learning, and cognitive functions.
- Sensory integration is the brain's process of organizing sensory input for adaptive responses.
- Sensory integration therapy (SIT) utilizes sensorimotor exercises to address specific functional deficits in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of SIT combined with conventional physiotherapy on functional mobility in children with spastic diplegic CP.
- To compare the outcomes of combined SIT and physiotherapy versus conventional physiotherapy alone.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 40 children diagnosed with spastic diplegic CP.
- Group A received 25 minutes of SIT plus 20 minutes of conventional physiotherapy.
- Group B received 45 minutes of conventional physiotherapy alone, both for a four-week duration.
Main Results:
- Both groups demonstrated statistically significant improvements in Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and Short Sensory Profile (SSP) scores (p<0.0001).
- The combined SIT and physiotherapy group (Group A) showed significantly greater improvements in GMFCS and SSP scores compared to the conventional physiotherapy group (Group B).
- Pediatric mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scores also improved significantly in both groups post-intervention.
Conclusions:
- Combined SIT and conventional physiotherapy significantly enhances functional mobility in children with spastic diplegic CP.
- SIT is a valuable adjunct therapy for improving motor function and sensory processing in this population.
- Both treatment approaches led to substantial functional improvements, highlighting the importance of targeted rehabilitation.
Abstract:
Background A set of non-progressive brain abnormalities and nervous system dysfunctions are referred to as cerebral palsy (CP). Due to this, the child's mobility, eyesight, learning, and thought processes are affected. It can evolve before, through birth, or the first year of a child's life. The activity through which the brain organizes and analyses external sensations like touch, motion, body awareness, vision, hearing, and gravity is indicated as sensory integration. The use of sensory integration therapy (SIT) necessitates that the sensorimotor exercises target the specific parts of difficulties that the child experiences daily. This study aims to study the effectiveness of SIT on functional mobility in children with spastic diplegic CP. Methods In this study, 40 children of CP with spastic diplegic who met the inclusion and exclusion criterion were enlisted and were separated into two groups, with Group A (n=20) receiving SIT for 25 minutes along with conventional physiotherapy for 20 minutes, and Group B (n=20) were given conventional physiotherapy for 45 minutes. A four-week therapy plan was followed. Short sensory profile (SSP) and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), Pediatric mini-mental state examination (MMSE), and Modified Ashworth Scale were taken as outcome measures. Results SIT along with traditional treatment is described in the study protocol which aids CP children to improve themselves. Following a four-week protocol, combined therapy of SIT and conventional physiotherapy show an effect on the motor function of the children. After therapy, scores in GMFCS and SSP improved. By using Student's paired t-test, a statistically significant difference was found in GMFCS score at pre and post-test treatment in group A (7.28, p=0.0001) and group B (4.48, p=0.0001), in SSP score at pre and post-test treatment in group A (27.91, p=0.0001) and group B (11.31, p=0.0001), in MMSE score at pre- and post-test treatment in group A (6.89, p=0.0001) and group B (6.32, p=0.0001). The significance threshold was p<0.0001. Conclusion Under the study's experimental conditions, both groups showed substantial improvements in the functional mobility of children. When the efficacy of SIT along with conventional physiotherapy was examined, the impact resulted in a significantly greater improvement in the functional mobility of spastic diplegic CP children.
