Skip to main content
Log in

Therapeutic interventions in cerebral palsy

  • Symposium on Developmental and Behavioral Disorders-II
  • Published:
The Indian Journal of Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Various therapeutic interventions have been used in the management of children with cerebral palsy. Traditional physiotherapy and occupational therapy are widely used interventions and have been shown to be of benefit in the treatment of cerebral palsy. Evidence in support of the effectiveness of the neurodevelopmental treatment is equivocal at best. There is evidence to support the use and effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation in children with cerebral palsy. The effectiveness of many other interventions used in the treatment of cerebral palsy has not been clearly established based on well-controlled trials. These include: sensory integration, body-weight support treadmill training, conductive education, constraint-induced therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and the Vojta method. This article provides an overview of salient aspects of popular interventions used in the management of children with cerebral palsy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Koman LA, Smith BP, Shilt JS. Cerebral palsy.Lancet 2004; 363: 1619–1631.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Singhi PD. Cerebral palsy management.Indian J Pediatr 2004; 71(7): 635–639.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Mathews DJ, Wilson P. Cerebral palsy. In Monnar G, Alexander MA eds.Pediatric Rehabilitation, 3rd edn. Philadelphia, USA; Hanley and Belfus, 1999; 193–218.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Liptak GS. Complementary and alternative therapies for cerebral palsy. Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews 2005; 11: 156–163.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Hurvitz EA, Leonard C, Ayyangar Ret al. Complementary and alternative medicine use in families of children with CP.Dev Med Child Neurol 2003; 45: 364–370.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Mayston M. Physiotherapy management in cerebral palsy: an update on treatment approaches.Clinics in Developmental Medicine 2004; 161: 147–160.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Taggart P, Aguilar C. Therapeutic exercise. In Molnar G, Alexander MA eds.Pediatric Rehabilitation, 3rd edn. Philadelphia, USA; Hanley and Belfus, 1999; 125–138,.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Stanger M, Oresic S. Rehabilitation approaches for children with cerebral palsy: overview.J Child Neurol 2003; 18: S79-S88.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Dodd KJ, Taylor NF, Damiano DL. A systematic review of the effectiveness of strength-training programs for people with cerebral palsy.Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2002; 83: 1157–1164.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Palisano RJ, Snider LM, Orlin MN: Recent advances in physical and occupational therapy for children with cerebral palsy.Seminars in Pediatric Neurology 2004; 11(1): 66–77.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Steultjens EM, Dekker J, Boulter LMet al. Occupational therapy for children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review.Clinics in Rehabilitation 2004; 18: 1–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Butler C, Darrah J. Effects of neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT) for cerebral palsy: an AACPDM. evidence report.Dev Med Child Neurol 2001; 43: 778–790.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Tsorlakis N, Evaggelinou C, Grouios G, Tsorbatzoudis C. Effect of intensive neurodevelopmental treatment in gross motor function of children with cerebral palsy.Dev Med Child Neurolo 2004; 46: 740–745.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Schaaf R, Miller LJ. Occupational therapy using a sensory integrative approach for children with developmental disabilities.Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews 2005; 11: 143–148.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Vargas S, Camilli G. A meta-analysis of research on sensory integration treatment.Am J Occup Ther 1999; 53: 189–198.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Kerr C, McDowell B, McDonough S. Electrical stimulation in cerebral palsy: a review of effects on strength and motor function.Dev Med Child Neurol 2004; 46: 205–213.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Johnston TE, Finson RL, McCarthy JJ,et al. Use of functional electrical stimulation to augment tradtitional orhopaedic surgery in children with CP.J Pediatr Orthop 2004; 24: 283–291.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Dali C, Hansen FJ, Pedersen SAet al. Threshold electrical stimulation in ambulant children with CP: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.Dev Med Child Neurol 2002; 44: 364–369.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Thelan E. Treadmill-elicited stepping in seven month old infants.Child Dev 1986; 57: 1498–1506.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Schindl MR, Forstner C, Kern Het al. Treadmill training with partial body weight support in nonambulatory patients with cerebral palsy.Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2000; 81: 301–306.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Richards CL, Malouin F, Dumas Fet al. Early and intensive treadmill locomotor training for young children with cerebral palsy: A feasibility study.Pedatr Phys Ther 1997; 9: 158–165.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Darrah J, Watkins B, Chen Let al. Conductive education intervention for children with CP: An AACPDM evidence report.Dev Med Child Neurol 2004; 46: 187–203.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Reddihough DS, King J, Coleman Get al. Efficacy of programmes based on conductive education for young children with cerebral palsy.Dev Med Child Neurol 1998; 40: 763–770.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. American Academy of Pediatrics: Committee on Children with Disabilities. The treatment of neurologically impaired children using patterning.Pediatrics 1999; 104: 1149–1151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Willis JK, Maello A, Rice JLet al. Forced use treatment of childhood hemiparesis.Pediatrics 2002; 110: 94–96.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Echols K, DeLuca SC, Ramey SLet al. Constraint-induced movement therapy versus traditional therapy services for young children with CP.Dev Med Child Neurolo Suppl 2002; 91: 44.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Meregillano G. Hippotherapy.Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2004; 15(4): 843–854.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Cherng R, Liao H, Leung HWCet al. The effectiveness of therapeutic horseback riding in children with spastic CP.Adapt Phys Activ Q 2004; 21: 103–121.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Casady RL, Nichols-Larsen DS. The effectiveness of hippotherapy on ten children with CP.Pediatr Phys Ther 2004; 16: 165–172.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Benda W, McGibbon NH, Grant KL. Improvements in muscle symmetry in children with CP after equine-assisted hippotherapy.J Altern Complement Med 2003; 9: 817–825.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Collet JP, Vanasse M, Marois Pet al. Hyperbaric oxygen for children with CP: A randomized multicentre trial. HBO-CP Research Group.Lancet 2001; 357: 582–586.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. McDonagh M, Carson S, Ash Jet al. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for brain injury, cerebral palsy, and stroke.Evid Rep Technol Assess (Summ). 2003; 85: 1–6.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Kaptchuk TJ. Acupuncture: Theory, efficacy, and practice.Ann Intern Med 2002; 136: 374–383.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Shi B, Bu H, Lin L. A clinical study on acupuncture treatment of pediatric CP.J Tradit Chin Med 1992; 12: 45–51.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dilip R. Patel.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Patel, D.R. Therapeutic interventions in cerebral palsy. Indian J Pediatr 72, 979–983 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02731676

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02731676

Key words

Navigation