Photo Bio-stimulation on Acupuncture Points: Impact on Selected Measures in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the effect of adding photo bio-stimulation to standard physical therapy on spasticity, ankle active range of motion (ROM), gross motor function, plantar surface area (PSA), hind foot peak pressure, and quality of life (QoL) in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). Fifty-one children with spastic CP were randomly assigned to the laser therapy group (LG) and received regular physical therapy plus laser acupuncture over three acupuncture points (GB34, LR3, LIV3), and the control group received regular physical therapy three times per week for 4 weeks. Muscle tone using the modified Ashworth scale, ankle active ROM using goniometry, PSA and the peak pressure on the hind foot (PPHF) by E-Med system, motor function by Gross Motor Function Measure (88 items), and pediatric QoL questionnaire were assessed before and after intervention and after 3 months. Posttreatment values of ankle plantar flexion (AP), ankle dorsiflexion (AD), and PPHF demonstrated statistically significant differences and medium to high effect size in favor of LG (P = 0.005 and d = 0.73, P = 0.02 and d = 0.57, P = 0.01 and d = 0.61, respectively). At the 3-month follow-up analysis, the same outcomes (AD, AP, and PPHF) demonstrated statistically significant differences and medium to high effect size (P = 0.000 and d =1.46, P = 0.02 and d = 0.86, P = 0.01 and d = 0.75, respectively) in favor of the LG. Adding laser acupuncture on GB34, LR3, and LIV3 to standard physical therapy can reduce spasticity, and improve ankle ROM, gross motor function, PSA, hind foot peak pressure, and QoL for children with spastic CP.