Vojta therapy for a 12 year-old child with cerebral palsy

Abstract

[Purpose] The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of Vojta therapy on motor improvement in an older child with cerebral palsy. [Subjects] Vojta therapy was performed for a 12 year-old child with cerebral palsy who had significantly arrested motor development during the first years of life. [Methods] The treatment was applied in two separate therapeutic units of 14 and 6 weeks, respectively, which were separated by an 8-month Vojta-free period. Therapeutic progress was gauged by the gross motor function measure, the gross motor function classification system, and the manual ability classification system. [Results] The gross motor function measure improved significantly following the first therapeutic unit, then decreased during the interval, but improved again following the second therapeutic unit. In the gross motor function classification system, the patient was classified as level III and this remained unchanged, despite great progress in specific motor functions. In the manual ability classification system assessment the child was classified as level III during the entire assessment period. [Conclusion] Using Vojta therapy can achieve dynamic locomotor and gross motor development in older cerebral palsy patients.