Effect Of Proprioceptive Training On Children With Spastic Diplegia

Abstract

Introduction: Spastic diplegia is considered as one of the most common geographical classifications of cerebral palsy, with bilateral involvement of the lower extremities and fine motor and/or sensory abnormalities in the upper extremities due to affected interaction between sensory inputs, correct active muscle contraction and the central nervous system which will result in a balance problem and reduced functional mobility. Proprioception training has shown to be effective in improving balance and functional mobility in different population but not in pediatric conditions. Study objective was to measure the balance and functional mobility before and after 4weeks of active progressive proprioceptive training program in children with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy. Methodology: This study uses a single group experimental study. There were 20 children with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy selected according to history, Tardieu scale, Gross motor function classification system scale, pediatrics mini mental scale, Pediatrics Balance Scale (PBS) and Modified Timed Up and Go (MTUG) scale. There were 8 children
completed the duration of the study. Duration of intervention was 4 weeks; and children were re-assessed post intervention.
Results: The finding of this study is that there is a statistically significant (p<0.000) increase in post means of balance with
large effect size 0.576, while There is no statistically significant (P =0.734) increase in means of functional mobility with
small effect size 0.08. The power of the study shows weak 0.24 (24%). Conclusion: Four weeks of active progressive proprioceptive training program has a significant effect on balance while it has no significant effect on functional mobility in children with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy.