Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Laser acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy for spastic cerebral palsy in children

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Lasers in Medical Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Laser acupuncture is widely used as an alternative line of treatment in several chronic pediatric diseases. To investigate whether biostimulation by low-level laser on acupuncture points adds a clinical benefit to conventional physiotherapy in hemiplegic spastic cerebral palsy (CP) children. Forty spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy children by age 1–4 years were chosen from the pediatric outpatient clinic of the National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences (NILES), Cairo University, and Menofyia University hospitals. They were randomly divided into control and study groups; 20 children each. Both groups received physiotherapy for 3 months, while only the study group also received laser acupuncture (low-level laser 650 nm with 50 mW power was applied at each acupoint for 30 s giving an energy density of 1.8 J/cm2). Preassessment and postassessment of muscle tone, the range of motion (ROM), and gross motor function measurements (GMFMs) were obtained, and the results were statistically analyzed. Comparison between posttreatment measures for the control vs. study groups showed significant difference in muscle tone (wrist flexors and plantar flexors) in favor of the study group, while range of motion showed no significant differences. GMFM showed no significant difference in total score while there was a significant difference in goal total score (sum of % scores for each dimension identified as goal area divided by number of goal areas) in favor of the study group. Laser acupuncture has a beneficial effect on reducing spasticity in spastic cerebral palsy and may be helpful in improving their movement.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Rosenbaum P, Paneth N, Leviton A (2007) A report: the definition and classification of cerebral palsy April. Dev Med Child Neurol Suppl 109:8–14

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Hao JJ, Zhongren S, Xian S, Tiansong Y (2012) Scalp acupuncture for cerebral palsy in a child diagnosed with stroke in utero. Glob Adv Health Med 1:14–17

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Odding E, Marij ER, Hendrik JS (2006) The epidemiology of cerebral palsy: incidence, impairments and risk factors. Disabil Rehabil 28:4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Svedberg LE, Nordah UE, Lundeberg TC (2003) Electro-acupuncture in a child with mild spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol 45:503–504

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Sanner C, Sundequist U (1981) Acupuncture for the relief of painful muscle spasms in dystonic CP. Dev Med Child Neurol 23:544–545

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Whittaker P (2004) Laser acupuncture: past, present, and future. Lasers Med Sci 19(2):69–80

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Farivar S, Malekshahabi T, Shiari R (2014) Biological effects of low level laser therapy. Lasers Med Sci 5(2):58–62

    Google Scholar 

  8. Huang YY, Chenet AC, Carroll JD, Hamblin RM (2009) Biphasic dose response in low level light therapy. Dose-Response 7(4):358–383

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Kujawa J, Zavodnik L, Zavodnik I, Buko V, Lapshyna A, Bryszewska M (2004) Effect of low-intensity (3.75-25 J/cm2) near-infrared (810 nm) laser radiation on red blood cell ATPase activities and membrane structure. J Clin Laser Med Surg 22(2):111–117

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Bjordal JM, Lopes-Martins RA, Joensen J, Couppe C, Ljunggren AE, Stergioulas A, Johnson MI (2008) A systematic review with procedural assessments and meta-analysis of low level laser therapy in lateral elbow tendinopathy (tennis elbow). BMC Musculoskelet Disord 9:75

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Zhang J, Marquina N, Oxinos G, Sau A, Ng D (2008) Effect of laser acupoint treatment on blood pressure and body weight- a pilot study. J Chiropr Med 7(4):134–139

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Tsuchiya K, Harada T, Ushigome N, Ohkuni I, Ohshiro T (2008) Low level laser therapy (LLLT) for cerebral palsy. Laser Ther 17(1):29–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Focks C (2008) Atlas of acupuncture, 2nd edn. Elsevier, Churchill Livingstone, ISBN-10: 0443100284, PP. 104, 112, 432 and 451

    Google Scholar 

  14. Bohannon R, Smith M (1987) Interrater reliability of a modified Ashworth scale of muscle spasticity. Phys Ther 67(2):206

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Michaelis U (2015) Gross motor function measure (GMFM-66 & GMFM 88) user’s manual, 2nd edition clinics in developmental medicine edited by Dianne J Russell, Peter L Rosenbaum, Marilyn Wright, Lisa M Avery London, UK: Mac Keith Press, 2013, pp 290 ISBN: 978-1-908316-88-2. Dev Med Child Neurol 57:1188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Siedentopf CM, Koppelstaetter F, Haala IA, Haid V, Rhomberg P, Ischebeck A, Buchberger WS, Schlager A, Golaszewski SM (2005) Laser acupuncture induced specific cerebral cortical and subcortical activations in humans. Lasers Med Sci 20:68–73

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Chau CM, Cheung RTF, Jiang XY (2009) Increased brain activation in motor cortex after acupuncture treatment for motor recovery in chronic stroke patients. Open Rehab J 2:89–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. James GA, Lu ZL, Van Meter JW, Sathian S, Hu XP, Butler AJ (2009) Changes in resting state effective connectivity in the motor network following rehabilitation of upper extremity post stroke paresis. Top Stroke Rehabil 16(4):270–281

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Bai L, Qin W, Tian J, Dong M, Pan X, Chen P, Yang W, Liu Y (2009) Acupuncture modulates spontaneous activities in the anticorrelated resting brain networks. Brain Res 1279:37–49

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Liu H, Xu J, Shan B (2012) Determining the precise cerebral response to acupuncture: an improved FMRI study. PLoS ONE 7(11):e49154

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Liu H, Zhang D, Tan X et al (2012) The effect of acupuncture on stroke recovery: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. BMC Complement Altern Med 12:216

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Kong JC, Lee MS, Shin BC, Song YS, Ernest E (2010) Acupuncture for functional recovery after stroke: a systemic review of sham- controlled randomized clinical trials. CMAJ 182(16):1723–1729

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Naeser MA, Alexander MP, Stiassny-Eder D et al (1994) Acupuncture in the treatment of paralysis in chronic and acute stroke patients—improvement correlated with specific CT scan lesion sites. Acupunct Electrother Res 19:227–249

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Hashmi JT, Huang YY, Osmani BZ, Sharma SK, Naeser MA, Hamblin MR (2010) Role of low level laser therapy in neurorehabilitation. PMR 2(12):s292–s305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Zhao JG, Cao CH, Liu CZ, Han BJ, Zhang J (2009) Effect of acupuncture treatment on spastic states of stroke patients. J Neurol Sci 276(1-2):143–147

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Svedberg LE, Nordah UE, Lundeberg TC (2001) Effects of acupuncture on skin temperature in children with neurological disorders and cold feet: an exploratory study. Complement Ther Med 9:89–97

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Duncan B, Barton L, Edmonds D, Blashill BM (2004) Parental perceptions of the therapeutic effect from osteopathic manipulation or acupuncture in children with spastic CP. Clin Pediatr Phila 43:349–353

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Asagai Y, Kanai H, Miura Y, Ohshiro T, Miura Y, Ohshiro T (1994) Application of low reactive-level laser therapy (LLLT) in the functional training of cerebral palsy patients. Laser Ther 6:195–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Maegawa Y, Itoh T, Hosokawa T, Yaegashi K, Nishi M (2000) Effects of near-infrared low-level laser irradiation on microcirculation. Lasers Surg Med 27(5):427–437

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Fadaie, M, Lic A.C, Mohammad M, Khan N, Yasameen Shah S, Fathi R (2002) Application of laser acupuncture in children with cerebral palsy. med-vetacupuncture.org/english/articles/lasercp.htm

  31. Anwar, Shahzad, et al. (2008) Treating cerebral palsy with aculasertherapy. Biomedical Optics (BiOS) 2008 International Society for Optics and Photonics, QW

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Applications of Laser, National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences (NILES), Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

    Ola A. Dabbous & Yousry M. Mostafa

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of medicine, Menofyia University, Shebin El Kom, Egypt

    Hossam A. El Noamany

  3. Department of Pediatric Physical Therapy, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

    Shrouk A. El Shennawy

  4. Department of Pediatric Physical Therapy, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Pharos University, Alexandria, Egypt

    Mohammed A. El Bagoury

Authors
  1. Ola A. Dabbous
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yousry M. Mostafa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hossam A. El Noamany
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Shrouk A. El Shennawy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Mohammed A. El Bagoury
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ola A. Dabbous.

Ethics declarations

Financial disclosure

No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Dabbous, O.A., Mostafa, Y.M., El Noamany, H.A. et al. Laser acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy for spastic cerebral palsy in children. Lasers Med Sci 31, 1061–1067 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-016-1951-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-016-1951-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation