[Cryotherapy in the complex restorative treatment of children with infantile cerebral palsy]

Children with spastic diplegia, hemiparetic and hyperkinetic forms of infantile cerebral paralysis were treated with local cryoapplications onto the hands. During the course of cryotherapy the authors studied interference and needle EMGs of the forearm muscles. Local cryotherapy induced a reduction in the muscle tone by gradual switching off the activity of individual motor units. Cryotherapy diminished the intensity of hyperkineses and increased the functional possibilities of the hand so that writing became possible. A conclusion is made that a decrease in the level of afferentation alters the functional activity of some links of the motor analyzer.