Tag: infantile cerebral palsy

Assessment of the efficacy of local cryotherapy in children with cerebral palsy

Marek Woszczak, Zbigniew Śliwiński, Marek Kiljański, Wojciech Kiebzak, Marcin Szczepanik, Wiesław Tomaszewski

Marek Woszczak, Zbigniew Śliwiński, Marek Kiljański, Wojciech Kiebzak, Marcin Szczepanik, Wiesław Tomaszewski – Assessment of the efficacy of local cryotherapy in children with cerebral palsy. Fizjoterapia Polska 2007; 7(3); 275-285

Abstract
Background. The author presents the results of a study of 60 children with infantile cerebral palsy carried out at a rehabilitation centre in the town of Zgorzelec. The study aimed to demonstrate that a 4-week programme of customised kinesiotherapy with cryostimulation of the lower limbs with liquid nitrogen vapour could have a beneficial effect on motor status as well as muscle tone and skin surface temperature in children with infantile cerebral palsy. Material and methods. A group of children of both sexes aged 3-14 with infantile cerebral palsy underwent 4 weeks of customised kinesiotherapy combined with cryostimulation of both lower limbs. Muscle tone was determined with a Szirmai myotonometer using special methodology. The level of spasticity was estimated with the Ashworth test, and motor activity assessment was made before and after the treatment according to a score table designed by the authors. Thermovisual recordings of skin surface temperature in the lower limbs were made immediately before and 5 and 15 minutes after cryostimulation procedures at the beginning and end of the 4-week programme. Results and Conclusions. A comparison of the results of the motor activity assessment, Ashworth test and myotonometry before and after the rehabilitation programme shows that the use of cryostimulation in the rehabilitation of children with infantile cerebral palsy results in a reduction of spasticity in the lower limbs and improvement in motor activity. Thermovisual analysis of skin surface temperature demonstrates full adaptation of the children’s vascular system, i.e. excellent safety of topical cryostimulation.
Key words:
infantile cerebral palsy, spastic muscle tone, local cryostimulation, Ashworth test, motor activity assessment, Szirmai myotonometer, thermovision
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Mental impairment and functional status of children with cerebral palsy

Beata Depczyńska, Marek Jóźwiak, Witold Dudziński

Beata Depczyńska, Marek Jóźwiak, Witold Dudziński – Mental impairment and functional status of children with cerebral palsy. Fizjoterapia Polska 2009; 9(2); 122-132

Abstract
Background. Mental impairment associated with infantile cerebral palsy affects approx. 30% of the children and is a serious risk factor influencing the course of functional education and the final functional outcome. The aim of this study was to carry out a functional assessment of motor skills of children with bilateral hemiplegia and intellectual handicaps with respect to locomotion, mobility and dexterity A further goal was to determine the relationship between the degree of intellectual handicap and the functional status ofthe children. Material and methods. The study involved 31 children (16 boys and 15 girls) aged 8-16 years with infantile cerebral palsy presen-ting as bilateral hemiplegia with mental impairment. The children were divided into three groups based on the severity of intellectual impairment (moderate, marked and severe). The paediatric version of the Functional Assessment of Patients scale was used for the functional assessment. We chose three domains: locomotion, mobility and dexterity. Two assessments were carried out 12 months apart. Results. The overall score as well as the domain scores decreased with increasing intellectual handicap. This obsenation ap-plied to the baseline and final assessment alike. However, the degree of functional change between the assessments was not si-gnificantly related to the level of mental impairment. Conclusions. The degree of mental impairment In children with bilateral hemiplegia is strongly correlated with their functional status in the locomotion, mobility and dexterity domains. The degree of change in functional status assessed with the basie questions ofthe paediatric modification of the Functional Assessment of Patients scale was not significantly associated with the se-yerity of intellectual impairment.
Key words:
infantile cerebral palsy, mental impairment, functional evaluation
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Manual Ability Classification System for children with cerebral palsy

Roksana Malak, Ewa Gajewska, Magdalena Sobieska, Włodzimierz Samborski

Roksana Malak, Ewa Gajewska, Magdalena Sobieska, Włodzimierz Samborski – Manual Ability Classification System for children with cerebral palsy. Fizjoterapia Polska 2010; 10(1); 69-77

Abstract
Background. The Manual Ability Classification System is a five-level scale for evaluating the manual ability of children with cerebral palsy aged 4-18 years. The aim of the study was to determine how the manual ability of cerebral palsied children and youth is influenced by the type of cerebral palsy and daily activities indicating various levels of psychomotor development. Material and methods. The study involved a group of 40 children with cerebral palsy aged 4-18 years attending Special Education School Complex No. 103 and Special Education Kindergarten No. 164 in Poznań. The research tool was a questionnaire containing the Manual Ability Classification System filled in by the parents. ICP type according to the Ingram classification was determined together with the level of psychomotor development.Results. Children with bilateral hemiplegia (16) represented the poorest manual abilities compared to children with spastic diplegia (13) or spastic hemiplegia (11). There was a correlation between the ease of handling everyday objects and the ability to crawl (F (1.38) = 21.466, p = 0.0004) and between the ability to stand up unassisted and the ability to stand unassisted(F(1.38)=35.894,p=. 00000).Conclusions. 1. Children with bilateral hemiplegia were most limited in their ability to handle everyday objects. 2. The ability to crawl, stand up unassisted and stand unassisted were correlated with good object handling skills.
Key words:
manual ability, infantile cerebral palsy, psychomotor development
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