Comparison between the Effect of Aquatic Exercise Program and Land Exercise Program in Spastic Cerebral Palsy on Motor Function and Balance

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a aquatic exercise program (AEP) compared with a land exercise program (LEP) in children with spastic cerebral palsy on motor function and balance. Thirty children with spastic cerebral palsy receiving edgewise treatment were randomly assigned to two groups, a AEP and a LEP. AEP and LEP were applied to two groups of children with spastic cerebral palsy for 30 minutes, three times a week for 8 weeks. Range of motion (ROM) of ankle dorsi flexion, Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) while ankle dorsi flexed, Pediatric Berg's Balance Scale (PBS), and Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) were used for pre and post comparison. There were significant differences of ROM while ankle dorsi flexed, PBS and GMFM between pre and post treatment in all the two groups (p<0.05). But as a measure of MAS while ankle dorsi flexed did not show a significant differences. And the was significant difference in the amount of change of the ROM while ankle dorsi flexion between the two groups (p<0.05). The results would suggest that both of the exercise program are equally effective. [By kind permission, KoreaMed, Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors.]