The use of postural balance restoration tools in the complex treatment of children with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Physical rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy (CP) requires long-term, systematic, individual and step-by-step use of a complex of tools to restore lost motor functions.
 All forms of cerebral palsy cause a violation of the body's balance control system, which is manifested by unsteady walking, unexpected falls, swaying, and impaired coordination of movements.
 The purpose of the study is to increase the effectiveness of comprehensive rehabilitation of patients with cerebral palsy in the late residual stage by using means of restoring postural balance.
 Research methods: analysis of special scientific and methodical literature; analysis of medical histories; assessment of the level of motor disorders (gross motor function classification system (GMFCS); assessment of the degree of change in muscle tone (modified Ashworth scale); assessment of balance function (Berg balance scale); methods of mathematical statistics.
 To achieve the goal, an examination of 20 children with cerebral palsy from 6 to 12 years of age with mainly spastic forms of cerebral palsy was carried out. Patients of the main group received standard rehabilitation treatment and classes on the balance beam and in the rehabilitation system "Spider" in combination with therapeutic gymnastics. The control group of patients received the standard rehabilitation treatment used in this rehabilitation facility. The standard rehabilitation program included therapeutic gymnastics, segmental-reflex massage, mechanotherapy.
 The impact of means of postural balance restoration in combination with existing methods of physical rehabilitation in children with cerebral palsy on coordination and movement disorders was studied.
 It has been established that complex therapy with the use of means for restoring postural balance can improve the rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy, both in the older and younger age groups. According to all the conducted tests, positive dynamics were obtained.