Efficacy of intensive neurodevelopment therapy versus conventional physiotherapy in children with spastic cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a well-recognized neurodevelopmental condition beginning in early childhood and persisting through the lifespan. There are many systems of treatment for cerebral palsy. In a very effective method of treatment, NDT, the patient learns to control movement through the use of the development sequence using activities that promote “normal” selective movements. The main aim of this study is to prove the difference of effectiveness of intensive neurodevelopment therapy with conventional physiotherapy treatment.

There were two groups of subjects. Pre test values of Gross Motor Functions (lying & rolling, sitting, crawling & kneeling, standing, walking, running & jumping) and Spasticity were measured on GMFM-66 Scale (Gross Motor Function Measure-66 Scale), and The Ashworth Scale on the first day of the treatment. Both the groups received treatment for minimum 5 days/week, having each treatment session of 50 minutes per day. Total therapy was given for 8 weeks. After 4 weeks and 8 weeks post treatment measurements were again taken for quantitative analysis.

There is non significant improvement of gross motor functions (F value = 0.199, P>0.05) in group A, while there is significant reduction of spasticity of Rt. (F value = 5.333, P<0.05) and Lf. (F value = 4.800, P<0.05) Elbow flexors and Rt. (F value = 6.706, P<0.05) knee extensors in group A, the reduction of spasticity in Lf. (F value = 3.083, P>0.05) knee extensors and Rt. (F value = 2.018, P>0.05) and Lf. (F value = 2.053, P>0.05)Ankle Plantar-flexors are statistically non significant.

There is significant improvement of the gross motor functions (F value = 0.144, P>0.05) in cerebral palsy children of group B, and there is significant reduction of spasticity of Rt. (F value = 6.882, P<0.05) and Lf. (F value = 11.294, P<0.05) Elbow flexors and Rt. (F value = 10.857, P<0.05) and Lf. (F value = 3.692, P<0.05) knee extensors and Rt. (F value = 23.786, P<0.05) and Lf. (F value = 5.229, P<0.05)Ankle Plantar-flexors.