Effectiveness of Cryotherapy Prior to Passive Stretching on the Level of Spasticity and Hand Function among Children with Cerebral Palsy at Families for Children, Coimbatore

Abstract

An interventional study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of cryotherapy prior to passive stretching on the level of spasticity and hand function among children with cerebral palsy at families for children, Coimbatore. Quasi experimental pretest post-test with Control group design was used to conduct the study. A purposive sample of 30 children with mild and moderate spastic cerebral palsy was included for the study. The selected samples were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups alternatively. Level of spasticity and hand function was assessed using Ashworth scale and Zancolli classification hand function scale before administration. Cryotherapy was administered for twenty minutes prior to passive stretching in experimental group and no intervention was given to control group prior to passive stretching. Level of spasticity and hand function was assessed using Ashworth scale and Zancolli classification hand function scale after ten days of intervention. The obtained data were analyzed using‘t’ test for dependent sample and‘t’ test for independent samples. The result showed that there was a significant reduction in spasticity after the implementation of cryotherapy. Hence, it was concluded that cryotherapy was effective in reducing the level of spasticity and improving hand function among children with cerebral palsy.