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The effect of multisensory stimulation on exercise related pain and anxiety in children with cerebral palsy: A
Fulya Merve Kos1, Ayşe Arıcıoğlu Sülün2, Aslı Akdeniz Kudubeş1
1Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Bilecik, Turkey.
Insights
Multisensory stimulation effectively reduced pain and anxiety during exercise in children with cerebral palsy (CP). This nonpharmacological approach offers a safe, holistic option for managing discomfort in this population.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Neuroscience
- Pain Management
Background:
- Children with cerebral palsy (CP) often experience pain and anxiety during exercise.
- Effective nonpharmacological interventions are needed to manage exercise-related discomfort in children with CP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of multisensory stimulation on pain and anxiety levels in children with CP before and after exercise.
- To assess the efficacy of multisensory stimulation as an adjunct to routine exercise.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 80 children (aged 4-10 years) with CP.
- Intervention group received multisensory stimulation during exercise; control group received routine exercise only.
- Pain and anxiety were measured using validated scales; data analyzed with t-tests, ANOVA, and regression.
Main Results:
- The intervention group showed significant reductions in pain and anxiety post-exercise (p < 0.05).
- Multisensory stimulation explained 36.6% of pain reduction and 11.0% of anxiety reduction.
- Significant group × time interactions indicated greater improvements in the intervention group.
Conclusions:
- Multisensory stimulation is an effective nonpharmacological method for alleviating exercise-induced pain and anxiety in children with CP.
- This intervention can be safely integrated into routine exercise for holistic pain and anxiety management.
Objective:
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of multisensory stimulation on pain and anxiety before and after exercise in children aged 4-10 years with cerebral palsy (CP).
Method:
This randomized controlled study was conducted between July and September 2025 at a special education center. Eighty children with CP aged 4-10 years were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 40) or a control group (n = 40). Children in the intervention group received multisensory stimulation using Happy Senso Therapy foam during routine exercise sessions, while the control group received routine exercise only. Pain and anxiety levels were assessed before and after exercise using the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale and the Children's Anxiety Scale. Data were analyzed using t-tests, repeated measures mixed-design ANOVA, and regression analysis.
Results:
Mean pain and anxiety scores in the intervention group significantly decreased after the intervention (p < 0.05). Mixed-design ANOVA demonstrated a significant group × time interaction for both pain and anxiety, indicating greater reductions in the intervention group compared with the control group. Regression analysis showed that multisensory stimulation accounted for 36.6 % of the reduction in pain levels and 11.0 % of the reduction in anxiety levels.
Conclusion:
Multisensory stimulation was an effective nonpharmacological method for reducing exercise-related pain and anxiety in children with CP.
Implications For Clinical Practice:
Multisensory stimulation can be integrated into routine exercise as a simple, safe, and holistic nursing intervention to support pain and anxiety management in children with cerebral palsy.
