Effects of ziclague phytotherapic associated with kinesitherapy on the equine foot of children with spastic cerebral palsy

Abstract

Background: Spasticity is the most common disorder of Cerebral Palsy (CP) and has the characteristics of decreased active movement,elastic hypertonia and hyperreflexia. Because of this, one of the main purposes of treatment is to decrease hypertonia. Thus, the herbalmedicine Ziclague®, having an antispasmodic action, may offer a new possibility in addition to physiotherapy. Objective: Verify theeffects of the application of the herbal medicine Ziclague on hypertonia of the sural triceps muscle of children with spasticCP. Methods: Ten children, between one and seven years of age, received application of Ziclague® spray on the triceps sural musclebefore the physiotherapy sessions, during the period of twelve weeks. Evaluations were performed using the Modified Ashworth Scale(MAS), Durigon Protocol (DP) and goniometry, before and after application on the first day, after four weeks and at the end of twelveweeks. The four evaluations were compared. Results: After twelve weeks the results were more evident, with a decrease in hypertoniaof the right lower limb (RLL) and left lower limb (LLL) verified by MAS (p= 0.06 and p= 0.13), and by the DP (p= 0.003 and p= 0.007).Goniometry showed increased range of motion for dorsiflexion of the RLL (p= 0.002) and LLL (p= 0.111). Conclusion: The use ofZiclague® associated with physiotherapy had a positive effect in decreasing hypertonia of the sural triceps muscle and in increasing theankle dorsiflexion range of motion.