Treatment and rehabilitation of children with perinatal injury of central nervous system using non-drug methods

Abstract

The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of neuro-developmental treatment (Bobath concept) on physical development, postural control, and balance in preschool children with spastic diplegia (a form of cerebral palsy). The study includes 90 children (48 girls and 42 boys) aged four with spastic diplegia. The patients were divided into two groups: A control group (n = 45) and a treatment group (n = 45). Children in the control group were assigned to traditional physical rehabilitation, while children in the treatment group underwent neuro-developmental treatment. The rehabilitation period in both groups was 6 months (three courses of 10 days). Children in the control and treatment groups had significant improvements in the sitting function (improved by 9.1% and 15.5%, respectively, p < 0.05). Furthermore, improvements were recorded in all parameters, such as motor performance in prone position (6.0% vs 14.7%, p < 0.05), motor performance in supine position (6.7% vs 13.2%, p < 0.05), kneeling (13.78% vs 16.3%, p < 0.05), half-kneeling (13% vs 23.6%, p < 0.05), and standing (7.8% vs 21%, p < 0.05) for both groups. Compering to the traditional physical rehabilitation, neuro-developmental treatment is more effective in enhancing physical development of children and improving somatometric indicators and motor performance.