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Effect of intensive neurodevelopmental treatment in gross motor function of children with cerebral palsy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 October 2004

Nikos Tsorlakis
Affiliation:
Hellenic Society for Care and Rehabilitation of Children with Disabilities, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Christina Evaggelinou
Affiliation:
Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Thessaloniki-Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
George Grouios
Affiliation:
Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Thessaloniki-Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
Charalambos Tsorbatzoudis
Affiliation:
Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Thessaloniki-Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
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Abstract

This study examined the effect of neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT) and differences in its intensity on gross motor function of children with cerebral palsy (CP). Participants were 34 children (12 females, 22 males; mean age 7y 3mo [SD 3y 6mo], age range 3 to 14y) with mild to moderate spasticity and hemiplegia (n=10), diplegia (n=12), and tetraplegia (n=12). Gross Motor Function Classification System levels were: I (n=10), II (n=10), and III (n=14). The paired sample, which was obtained by ratio stratification and matching by sex, age, and distribution of impairment from a total of 114 children with CP, was assigned randomly to two groups: group A underwent NDT twice a week and group B five times a week for 16 weeks. The outcome measure used was the Gross Motor Function Measure, which assessed the performance of the children before and after intervention. The paired-sample t-test revealed that gross motor function of children from both groups improved significantly after intervention (p<0.05). Children in group B performed better and showed significantly greater improvement than those in group A (p<0.05). Results support the effectiveness of NDT and underline the need for intensive application of the treatment.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
© 2004 Mac Keith Press

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