Abstract

Aim of the Study. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of an intensive, week-long rehabilitation program based on Vojta therapy on the level of functional independence in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Material and Methods. The study involved 20 children aged 1 to 6 years, diagnosed with CP and classified as level III or IV according to the GMFCS scale. Each child underwent Vojta therapy three times a day for 50 minutes over the course of a week. The effects were assessed before and after the rehabilitation program using the GMFM-66 and WeeFIM scales. The study employed a pre–post design without a control group. No parallel observation of a control group was conducted and the analysis assessed within-subject changes in the same cohort of children before and after the intervention.

Results. Statistical analysis showed a significant increase in total scores on both scales (GMFM-66 and WeeFIM) after the therapy. In the studied group of children with cerebral palsy, the average GMFM-66 score increased by 5.4%, and the WeeFIM score by 4.18% following a week-long rehabilitation program based on Vojta therapy. The greatest improvements were observed in domains related to more complex motor activities.

Conclusions. In the studied group of children with cerebral palsy, a short-term improvement in gross motor function and functional independence was observed following the completion of an intensive, one-week rehabilitation program based on Vojta therapy. Due to the lack of a control group and the continued use of Vojta therapy outside the intensive rehabilitation program, it is not possible to unequivocally attribute the observed effects solely to short-term intensive intervention. The results should be interpreted in the context of a comprehensive rehabilitation process.

Key words

Vojta therapy, cerebral palsy, functional independence