Abdominal and lower extremity muscles activity and thickness in typically developing children and children with developmental delay

Effect of a Tailored Physiotherapy Rehabilitation on Developmental Delay Primary to Non-communicating Hydrocephalus: A Case Study

This case report presents the physiotherapy intervention of a one-year-old male child diagnosed with non-communicating hydrocephalus primary to developmental delay. Hydrocephalus is marked by an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid and often leads to significant developmental delays and neurological impairments in affected infants. The physiotherapy intervention aimed to achieve head and trunk control, improve sensory awareness, and enhance overall body coordination and balance. Various techniques, including neurodevelopmental techniques, sensory stimulation, hippotherapy, and sensory integration therapy, were utilized to target specific developmental milestones and functional abilities. Outcome measures, including the Gross Motor Function Measure, Infant Neurological International Battery, Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination, and New Ballard Score, were used to assess the patient's progress pre- and post-intervention. Significant improvements were observed across all outcome measures following four months of physiotherapy rehabilitation. The patient demonstrated substantial gains in gross motor function, neurological examination scores, and overall developmental milestones. These findings underscore the effectiveness of physiotherapy rehabilitation in addressing developmental delays associated with non-communicating hydrocephalus. This case underscores the significance of early physiotherapy intervention, which plays a vital role in enhancing outcomes and improving the quality of life for affected children.

Developmentally delayed children with different muscle tone have different muscle activity and acceleration during sit-to-stand

Developmental delays cover a wide range, with different movement characteristics occurring depending on differences in muscle tone. We aimed to investigate muscle activity and acceleration during sit-to-stand in developmentally delayed (DD) children with different muscle tones. Forty participants were divided into three groups: typically developing (TD) children (n=18), DD children with hypertonia (n=12), and DD children with hypotonia (n=10). Electromyography was used to measure muscle activity and BTS G-Walk was used to measure acceleration. As a result, the activities of the rectus abdominal muscle and quadriceps muscle were lower in DD children with hypertonia than in TD children (P<0.05). The activity of the tibialis anterior muscle was higher in DD children with hypotonia than in TD children (P<0.05). The trunk angle was greater in DD children with hypotonia than in TD children (P<0.05), and vertical acceleration was lower in DD children with hypertonia than in TD children (P<0.05). Based on these differences, we will be able to provide intervention programs appropriate for the characteristics of DD children with different muscle tone.