Effects of functional massage on spasticity and motor functions in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled study
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of functional massage on the severity of lower limb spasticity and gross motor function of children with cerebral palsy (CP).
Methods: In this study, 20 children who were classified as level I-IV according to Gross Motor Classification System (GMFCS), who had communication skills (according to Communication Function Classification System, level I-III), who had never undergone surgery and who were between the ages of 5-12 years, were recruited from two rehabilitation centers. Children were randomized to control or experimental groups to receive either only Traditional Physiotherapy (TP) or TP combined with Functional Massage (FM). Interventions were delivered at equal dosage (total eight weeks, 2 days per week, 45 minutes/day) in the same environment. The severity of spasticity was measured with Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), and functional level and gross motor function were quantified according to GMFCS and Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), respectively.
Results: When the pre-therapy and post-therapy data covering GMFM and hip adductors, hip flexors, hamstrings and calf muscles spasticity score of the both groups were compared, no statistically significant difference was determined in the hip flexor spasticity score of the control group (p>0.05), while considerable differences were defined in the hip flexors spasticity score of the experimental group (p<0.05). Improvements on MAS belonging to other three muscle groups and on GMFM score were similar in both groups (p>0.05).
Conclusion: In conclusion, it was identified that FM combined with TP is effective in treating spasticity and in improving some parameters related to motor function in children with CP.
Keywords
References
- 1. Smithers-Sheedy H, Badawi N, Blair E, et al. What constitutes cerebral palsy in the twentyfirst century? Dev Med Chil Neurol. 2014;56:323-328.
- 2. Ohata K, Tsuboyama T, Haruta T, et al. Relation between muscle thickness, spasticity, and activity limitations in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2008;50:152-156.
- 3. Aymard C, Katz R, Lafitte C, et al. Presynaptic inhibition and homosynaptic depression: a comparison between lower and upper limbs in normal human subjects and patients with hemiplegia. Brain. 2000;123:1688-1702.
- 4. Calancie B, Broton JG, Klose KJ, et al. Evidence that alterations in presynaptic inhibition contribute to segmental hypo-and hyperexcitability after spinal cord injury in man. Electroencephalogr and Clin Neurophysiol. 1993;89:177-186.
- 5. Damiano DL, Vaughan CL, Abel ME. Muscle response to heavy resistance exercise in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol. 1995;37:731-9.
- 6. Carter R, Crago P, Keith M. Stiffness regulation by reflex action in the normal human hand. J Neurophysiol. 1990;64:105-118.
- 7. Cody F, Richardson Hc, MacDermott N, et al. Stretch and vibration reflexes of wrist flexor muscles in spasticity. Brain. 1987;110:433-450.
- 8. Dietz V, Quintern J, Berger W. Electrophysiological studies of gait in spasticity and rigidity. Evidence that altered mechanical properties of muscle contribute to hypertonia. J Neurol. 1981;104:431-449.
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Health Care Administration
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
December 25, 2018
Submission Date
July 31, 2018
Acceptance Date
November 9, 2018
Published in Issue
Year 2018 Volume: 5 Number: 3