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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