OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of exercise therapy on rehabilitation after selective posterior rhizotomy (SPR) in children with cerebral palsy, so as to provide reliable rehabilitation method for children with cerebral palsy.

METHODSTwo hundred and twenty-six children with cerebral palsy were treated in the study during September 2003 to April 2007. All the patients were randomly divided into the training and control groups. There were 113 patients in the treatment group, including 66 males and 47 females, ranging in age from 3 to 8 years, with an average of (6.5 +/- 1.2) years, and the patients were treated with SPR as well as exercise therapy. Among 113 patients in the control group, 59 patients were male and 54 patients were female, ranging in age from 3 to 10 years, with an average of (6.9 +/- 1.5) years, and the patients were treated with SPR simply. Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), passive range of motion and muscle tension were used to evaluate therapeutic effects before and after treatment for both groups.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up for 6 to 18 months (averaged 8 months). There were significant improvements in training group compared with the control group on GMFM (134.29 +/- 46.43, P < 0.05), passive range of motion (dorsiflexion of the ankle 14.2 +/- 3.1 degree, P < 0.05) and muscle tension (1.27 +/- 0.42, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPhysical therapy has more effective on rehabilitation after SPR for children with cerebral palsy, which can decrease spasticity and muscle tension and improve motor function.