OBJECTIVETo study the efficacy of conductive education combined with Frenkel training in the improvement of balance function in children with cerebral palsy.

METHODSOne hundred and fifteen children with cerebral palsy were randomly administered with conductive education and Frenkel training (study group, n=60) or conventional training (control group, n=55). Activities of daily living (ADL) scale and gross motor function measurement (GMFM) of physical performances were used to assess the balance function.

RESULTSThe scores of ADL scale and GMFM of physical performances in both the study and the control groups increased after training. The study group showed higher scores of ADL scale (37.91+/-10.12 vs 34.18+/-6.13; p<0.05)and GMFM (62.93+/-15.00 vs 54.53+/-14.11) than the control group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSConductive education combined with Frenkel training is more effective for the improvement of balance function in children cerebral palsy.

Activities of Daily Living ; Adolescent ; Cerebral Palsy ; physiopathology ; rehabilitation ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Disabled Children ; rehabilitation ; Education, Special ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Motor Skills ; Physical Therapy Modalities ; Postural Balance

OBJECTIVETo observe clinical therapeutic effect of scalp-acupuncture combined with exercise therapy on spastic cerebral palsy.

METHODSEighty children of spastic cerebral palsy were randomly divided into a scalp-acupuncture plus exercise therapy group and a exercise therapy group, 40 cases in each group. The scalp-acupuncture plus exercise therapy group were treated with scalp-acupuncture and exercise therapy, with Yundongqu (the motor area), Pinghengqu (the balance area), Ganjuequ (the sensory area), etc. selected for scalp-acupuncture, and puncture at main points Baihui (GV 20) and Sishencong (EX-HN 1) and exercise therapy. The exercise therapy group were treated by exercise therapy. Changes of GMFM scores and WeeFIM scores before and after treatment were compared.

RESULTSThere were significant differences in GMFM scores and WeeFIM scores before and treatment in the scalp-acupuncture plus exercise therapy group (P < 0.001) and in the exercise therapy group (P < 0.05), the former being better than the later (P < 0.05); the total effective rate was 92.5% in the scalp-acupuncture plus exercise therapy group and 72.5% in the exercise therapy group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05), the former being significantly higher than the later.

CONCLUSIONThe scalp-acupuncture combined with exercise therapy can improve motor function of limits of children with spastic cerebral palsy, with therapeutic effect better than that of simple exercise therapy.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Cerebral Palsy ; physiopathology ; rehabilitation ; therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Exercise Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meridians ; Motor Activity

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to investigate the effects of hippotherapy on gross motor function and functional performance in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited 34 children (M:F=15:19, age: 3-12 years) with spastic CP who underwent hippotherapy for 45 minutes twice a week for 8 weeks. Twenty-one children with spastic CP were recruited for control group. The distribution of gross motor function classification system level and mean age were not significantly different between the two groups. Outcome measures, including the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM)-66, GMFM-88 and the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory: Functional Skills Scale (PEDI-FSS), were assessed before therapy and after the 8-weeks intervention as outcome measures. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between intervention and control groups in mean baseline total scores of GMFM-66, GMFM-88 or PEDI-FSS. After the 8-weeks intervention, mean GMFM-66 and GMFM-88 scores were significantly improved in both groups. However, the hippotherapy group had significantly greater improvement in dimension E and GMFM-66 total score than the control group. The total PEDI-FSS score and the sub-scores of its 3 domains were significantly improved in the hippotherapy group, but not in the control group. CONCLUSION: The results of our study demonstrate the beneficial effects of hippotherapy on gross motor function and functional performance in children with CP compared to control group. The significant improvement in PEDI-FSS scores suggests that hippotherapy may be useful to maximize the functional performance of children with CP.
Activities of Daily Living ; Cerebral Palsy/physiopathology/*rehabilitation/*therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Disability Evaluation ; *Equine-Assisted Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; *Motor Skills ; Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care) ; *Physical Therapy Modalities ; Recovery of Function