Abstract
Research background and hypothesis. Cryotherapy could reduce spasticity for children with cerebral palsy.Research aim. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of cryotherapy on the lower limb spasticity for children with cerebral palsy.Research methods. Fourteen children with cerebral palsy spastic Diplegia aged 6–12 years were examined. The procedures of cryotherapy and physical therapy were applied to children in the test group (n = 7), and only physical therapy – for the members in the control group (n = 7). For all the subjects, the following procedures were performed before and after the research: foot extension measurements, the determination of the spasticity of flexors and selective foot motion, the estimation of balance and gross motor functions. Research results. After physical exercises foot extension showed improvement, spasticity of foot flexors reduced, foot selective movements, balance and gross motor functions improved. There was no statistical difference between the results in both groups.Discussion and conclusions. The influence of cryotherapy on the lower limb spasticity for children with cerebral palsy was not statistically significant.Keywords: spasticity, cryotherapy, physical exercises.
Highlights
It has been estimated that there are more than 15 million people with cerebral palsy (CP) in the world
After the assessment of goniometric measurements it was ascertained that in both the test and the control groups the measurements of foot extension taken before and after the physiotherapy were statistically different
Measures of foot extension increased in both groups, no significant and reliable changes were found between the test group which had cryotherapy procedures combined with physical exercises and the control group which did only physical exercises
Summary
It has been estimated that there are more than 15 million people with cerebral palsy (CP) in the world. According to PSO statistical data, CP is diagnosed for 1–2 cases of 1000 living newborn children. The prevalence of CP in different countries varies – 1.5–2.5 cases for 1000 newborns (Paneth et al, 2006). Spastic CP is the most common type of Cerebral Palsy with about 70–80% of all diagnosed cases (Nordmark et al, 2001). It is the most common cause of children disability that limits movements and distorts their social functioning. One of the main challenges in the treatment of such children is the reduction of spasticity
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