Effect of vibration versus suspension therapy on balance in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy

Short and Long-Term Effects of Whole-Body Vibration on Spasticity and Motor Performance in Children With Hemiparetic Cerebral Palsy

This study aimed to investigate the short and long-term effects of Whole-Body Vibration (WBV) therapy on spasticity and motor performance in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy. We recruited 26 patient participants from among children undergoing conventional physiotherapy in a private rehabilitation center. We randomly assigned 22 participants to equally sized treatment (n = 11) and control (n = 11) groups. We evaluated the participants at the beginning of the study with the Gross Motor Function Measure-88, LEGSys™ Spatio-Temporal Gait Analyzer, SportKAT550™ Portable Computerized Kinesthetic Balance Device and the Modified Ashworth Scale. While children in the treatment group were treated with Compex-Winplate™ to administer WBV in three 15-minute sessions per week for eight weeks, children in the control group received continued conventional physiotherapy during this period. We then re-evaluated all participants both immediately after the treatment and again 12 weeks after the treatment. Following WBV, both gross motor functions and gait and balance skills were significantly improved (p < 0.05), and spasticity in lower and upper extremity muscles was significantly inhibited (p < 0.05). These improvements were preserved even after 12 weeks. We conclude that WBV is an effective incremental approach to conventional physiotherapy in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy for inhibiting spasticity and improving motor performance.

The effect of two therapeutic interventions on balance in children with spastic cerebral palsy: A comparative study

Objectives

Postural control involves controlling the position of the body in space to achieve stability and orientation. Core stability is needed to improve balance and postural control. Whole-body vibration is a unique strategy for muscle strengthening in various clinical situations. This study compared the effects of whole-body vibration and a core stability program on balance in children with spastic cerebral palsy, with an intervention period of 12 weeks.

Methods

A total of 72 children with spastic cerebral palsy (hemiplegic and diplegic), of both sexes (age, 5–8 years), were selected from the outpatient clinic of the Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University. The children were randomly assigned to 2 groups. Group A underwent a core stability program for 30 min and group B underwent whole-body vibration training for 10 min, at 3 times a week for 12 weeks for both groups. Balance was assessed using the Biodex Balance System.

Results

A significant improvement in all variables (p < 0.05) was observed in each group, with greater improvement of all stability indices (anteroposterior, mediolateral, and overall) in group B. There were non-significant differences in all stability indices between hemiplegic and diplegic children (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Whole-body vibration and core stability exercises are recommended for the treatment of children with spastic cerebral palsy. Whole-body vibration was more effective than the core stability program in improving balance in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

Effects of Three Weeks of Whole-Body Vibration Training on Joint-Position Sense, Balance, and Gait in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Controlled Study

Purpose : To observe the effects of whole-body vibration (WBV) training in conjunction with conventional physical therapy (PT) on joint-position sense (JPS), balance, and gait in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: In this randomized controlled study, 24 children with CP were randomly selected either to continue their conventional PT or to receive WBV in conjunction with their conventional PT programme. Exposure to the intervention was intermittent (3 min WBV, 3 min rest) for 20 minutes, twice weekly for 3 weeks. JPS, balance, and gait were evaluated before and after treatment. Results: Ankle JPS was improved after 3 weeks of WBV training (p=0.014). Participants in the WBV group showed greater improvements in speed (F_1,21=5.221, p=0.035) and step width (F_1,21=4.487, p=0.039) than participants in the conventional PT group. Conclusion: Three weeks of WBV training was effective in improving ankle JPS and gait variables in children with CP.