The effect of weight bearing exercises on Spastic Diplegic Children

Abstract

Introduction: Cerebral Palsy (CP) refers to the group of varied neurological conditions or disease or disease which alters the motor capacities, movements, tonicity of muscles & postural changes in a child. Spastic diplegic cerebral palsy impacts bilateral lower extremities causing troubles with gait stability & coordination. He or she performs awkward walking the reflex is heightened. A toddler with mild spastic diplegic may also stroll without an assistive tool for community travel on the other side intense spastic diplegic cp needs assistive tool to stroll household distance. Main concentration of this project is on Cerebral Palsy (spastic diplegia) children having increased muscle tone specially in lower limb as a major complain. Methodology: 15 subjects were involved in the study aged from 1 to 10 years with a greater number of children falling GMFCS Level III and trained for weight bearing exercises, balance exercises, core exercises, positional exercises, walking exercises, modalities were also given to enhance the functioning of the muscle and worked to re-educate the muscles shows an increased result in the level of GMFCS from III to II. Modified Ashworth Scale was used to check the spasticity scoring present before and the rehabilitation program done for 6 weeks. Modified Time Up & Go Test was used to find out the functional capability and falling risks in children before and after the treatment. Result: Data were collected based on spasticity level scored by using Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) scoring (pre and post treatment for 6 weeks) and Modified Time Up & Go Test (MTUGT) scoring (pre and post treatment for 6 weeks) with respect to GMFCS levels improvements in each subject. Participants were having increased number of falls while walking for few meters ranges from 20-27s, [Mean (SD)= 23.06±1.34] as their baseline assessment; there was decreased number of falls and improved balance after the protocol followed ranges to 15-20s, [Mean (SD)= 16.87±1.50] after protocol followed for 6 weeks. Participants were having spasticity in their lower limbs which was scored by Modified Ashworth Scale reading 3 or 4, [Mean (SD)=3.33±0.49] as their baseline assessment; there was increase in muscle tone and some passive movements were difficulty while some show rigidity while performing flexion & extension. The scoring has been reduced to 1 or 2, [Mean (SD)= 2.33±0.50] after the rehab protocol. Conclusion: The study will be able to able to identify the outcome measure of patient following weight bearing exercises Through this we conclude that when we provide the positional exercises, weight bearing exercises, and walking exercises in the treatment to the patients. It helps them to improve their spasticity level.Modalities were also used to initiate the muscles contraction and relaxation to re-educate the muscles to strengthen the muscles