EFFECTS OF SENSORY INTEGRATION THERAPY (SIT) ON POSTURAL INSTABILITY, SPASTIC DIPLEGIC CEREBRAL PALSY (CP) IN DEVELOPMENTAL AGE.

Abstract

BACKGROUND- Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a developmental neurological condition or physical disability that primarily affects movement, balance, and posture in individuals. This neurological condition results from brain damage that occurs in the developing fetus or during birth. CP is known to be the most common motor disability in childhood. There are four types of Cerebral Palsy: Spastic CP, Ataxic CP, Dyskinetic CP, and Mixed CP. The goal of CP treatment is to manage symptoms, improve limitations, relieve pain, prevent complications, and maximize independence. A significant number of children with CP also experience sensory impairment.

MATERIALS & METHODS- For this study, 30 children were included after meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Each participant was required to attend an 8-week treatment program. To participate in the research, participants signed a consent form and provided demographic information. Several clinical tools were used before, during, and after the treatment program to monitor their progress. MS Excel and MS Word were used to store the data collected.

RESULTS- Our findings showed a significant difference in postural control between sitting positions before and after the intervention (t(29) = -2.703, p = 0.011). Additionally, postural control in the supine position showed significant improvement after the intervention (t(29) = -2.246, p = 0.033). However, no significant differences were found in gross motor function (t(29) = 1.725, p = 0.095), upper limb muscle tone (t(29) = 0.000, p = 1.000), lower limb muscle tone (t(29) = 0.000, p = 1.000), trunk muscle tone (t(29) = 0.571, p = 0.573), standing postural control (t(29) = -1.809, p = 0.081), and prone postural control (t(29) = -1.464, p = 0.154) after the intervention..

CONCLUSION-  As This research indicates that the two groups did not differ significantly in terms of muscle tone (MAS UL, MAS LL, MAS Trunk) and standing/lying postural control (PPAS STANDING, PPAS SUPINE, PPAS PRONE). However, significant differences were observed between the groups in gross motor function (GMFCS) and certain postural control measures after the intervention (POST GMFCS, POST PPAS SITTING, POST PPAS SUPINE, POST PPAS PRONE).