Combined Treatment with Techniques of Manual Medicine
and Physiotherapy in Children with Infantile Cerebral Palsy

This section is compiled by Frank M. Painter, D.C.
Send all comments or additions to:    Frankp@chiro.org

FROM:   Manuelle Medizin 2003 (Aug); 41 (4): 279-827

Lohse-Busch, H.; Riedel, M.; Falland, R.; Sailer-Kramer, B.; Reime, U.; Kraemer, M.

---

In a prospective randomised trial with a historical control group, 54 children with cerebral palsy were classified after Palisano and assessed with Russell's Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM). All patients were older than the age at which children can be expected to have reached 90% of their final gross motor development according to Rosenbaum. The children underwent a complex therapy consisting in special techniques of manual medicine suitable for children and physiotherapy; after 10 treatment sessions within 2 weeks a second GMFM assessment was carried out. In 36 cases the patients had to be excluded from further participation in the trial, for prospectively defined reasons. A drop out analysis is broadly discussed. After 7 months the remaining 18 children, who had continued with their physiotherapy at home, were assessed for a third time with the GMFM. A second course of the complex therapy was then administered, after which they were assessed with the GMFM for a fourth time.

RESULTS:   The 54 children improved by 2.95 points (on the GMFM) or by 6.8% in their gross motor abilities during the first 2-week complex therapy. During the 7-month subsequent observation period the 18 remaining patients' former results were augmented by a further gain of 1.31 points or 3.13%. There was a long-term improvement by 3.4 points or 10.44% after the total study period of 7.5 months. After a second 2-week course of complex therapy the overall improvement in gross motor abilities was 5.71 points or 17.55%.

CONCLUSIONS:   This study provides strong evidence showing that the complex therapy described can be effective in fostering the gross motor abilities of children with cerebral palsy.

Return to CEREBRAL PALSY

Since 5-15-2006