Therapeutic interventions for trunk and improvement of posture in children with cerebral palsy: a review of the literature

Abstract

Background: Cerebral Palsy (CP) is associated with disorders of movement, posture and intellectual activities which are due to a non-progressive lesion or damage to the immature brain and can be range from mild to profound. Objective: The aim of this literature review is to investigate and analyze the effectiveness of four new – in the last twenty years - modern therapeutic interventions (Hippotherapy, Virtual Reality, Aquatic Therapy and Adeli Suit Therapy) in the trunk and improvement of posture in children with cerebral palsy. Methods: After searching databases like Pubmed, Science Direct, Medline, Pedro, QMU e-Library and Cochrane Library for the period of 1995 to 2015, the total of 250 papers were retrieved. The studies consisted of children of all ages, diagnosed with CP. Only 73 of the studies were meeting the inclusion criteria. Results: Forty-four trials were indentified. Four intervention categories were distinguished (virtual reality therapy, hippotherapy, aquatic therapy and Adeli or Thera suit therapy). The results showed that each of the four therapies analyzed can be effective in improving trunk control and posture with or without additional physical therapy. However, further research is needed due to the diversity among types and severity of CP. Conclusion: Aquatic Therapy, Hippotherapy, Virtual Reality and Adeli/Thera Suit showed efficiency in treatment programs of children with CP. Future research studies must accommodate the effectiveness of these techniques and should improve the ability to target them at community and family levels.