Ann Rehabil Med.  2013 Oct;37(5):649-657. 10.5535/arm.2013.37.5.649.

Contributing Factors Analysis for the Changes of the Gross Motor Function in Children With Spastic Cerebral Palsy After Physical Therapy

• Yi TI
• Jin JR
• Kim SH
• Han KH

• KMID: 2266582
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2013.37.5.649

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the factors which contribute to the improvements of the gross motor function in children with spastic cerebral palsy after physical therapy.
METHODS
The subjects were 45 children with spastic cerebral palsy with no previous botulinum toxin injection or operation history within 6 months. They consisted of 24 males (53.3%) and 21 females (46.7%), and the age of the subjects ranged from 2 to 6 years, with the mean age being 41+/-18 months. The gross motor function was evaluated by Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM)-88 at the time of admission and discharge, and then, the subtractions were correlated with associated factors.
RESULTS
The GMFM-88 was increased by 7.17+/-3.10 through 52+/-16 days of physical therapy. The more days of admission, the more improvements of GMFM-88 were attained. The children with initial GMFM-88 values in the middle range showed more improvements in GMFM-88 (p<0.05). The children without dysphagia and children with less spasticity of lower extremities also showed more improvements in GMFM-88 (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
We can predict the improvements of the gross motor function after physical therapy according to the days of admission, initial GMFM-88, dysphagia, and spasticity of lower extremities. Further controlled studies including larger group are necessary.

Keyword

Cerebral palsy; Gross motor function; Physical therapy; Factor analysis

MeSH Terms

Botulinum Toxins
Cerebral Palsy*
Child*
Deglutition Disorders
Factor Analysis, Statistical
Female
Humans
Lower Extremity
Male
Muscle Spasticity*
Botulinum Toxins

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Changes of Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM)-88 to duration of admission. The longer duration of admission, the more improvements of GMFM-88.

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  Fig. 2 Changes of Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM)-88 to dysphagia. The children without dysphagia show more improvements of GMFM-88 as compared with dysphagia group by 2.022.

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  Fig. 3 Changes of Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM)-88 to composite spasticity index of lower extremities. The children with less spasticity of lower extremities show more improvements of GMFM-88 as compared with more spasticity of lower extremities.

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  Fig. 4 Changes of Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM)-88 to initial GMFM-88. The children with middle range of initial GMFM-88 show more improvements of GMFM-88 as compared with lower or higher range of initial GMFM-88.

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