The Role of Regular Physical Therapy on Spasticity in Children With Cerebral Palsy
10.5535/arm.2019.43.3.289
- Author:
Heewon LEE
1
;
Eun Kyung KIM
;
Dong Baek SON
;
Youngdeok HWANG
;
Joon Sung KIM
;
Seong Hoon LIM
;
Bomi SUL
;
Bo Young HONG
Author Information
1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, St. Vincent’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Suwon, Korea. byhong@catholic.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Cerebral palsy;
Muscle spasticity;
Physical therapy;
Ankle joint;
Range of motion
- MeSH:
Ankle Joint;
Cerebral Palsy;
Child;
Continuity of Patient Care;
Holidays;
Humans;
Knee;
Muscle Spasticity;
Outcome Assessment (Health Care);
Range of Motion, Articular
- From:Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
2019;43(3):289-296
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of physical therapy (PT) intervention on spasticity in patients with cerebral palsy (CP), and to assess the degree of deterioration of spasticity when regular PT is interrupted in those patients. METHODS: We recruited 35 children with spastic CP who visited our hospital for PT, and whose Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS) scores were serially recorded including before and after a 10-day public holiday time frame period. The outcome measures were the angle of range of motion (ROM) of dorsiflexion of the ankle joint (R1 and R2) in the knee flexion and extension positions as assessed using the MTS. RESULTS: The range of dorsiflexion of the ankle joint (R1 and R2) after the holiday period was significantly decreased as compared with that measured ROM noted before the holiday period, regardless of the knee position, age, or gross motor function. The dynamic component of the MTS (R2–R1) showed a slight decrease in the knee flexion position. CONCLUSION: Interruption of regular PT aggravated spasticity and decreased ankle joint ROM in children with spastic CP. Our findings suggest that regular PT in the care continuum for children with CP is crucial for the maintenance of ROM in the spastic ankle joints.
