Development of everyday occupations of children with cerebral palsy using occupational therapy and physical therapy

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to examine the peculiarities of the effects of two rehabilitation programs on performance, motor and process skills, quality of life, and also comparing their effectiveness in the main and control groups, which had statistically identical initial characteristics. The main hypothesis was that the use of targeted therapy and modified exercises, constraint-induced movement therapy, bimanual training, integrated therapeutic exercises may be better to affect everyday occupations or its components, quality of life of children with cerebral palsy. The contingent of the subjects is 106 children of 4-6 years old, of which 54 with spastic hemiplegia and 52 with spastic diplegia. The study presents the output data and dynamics in groups according to the Gross Motor Function Classification level; key aspects in groups level changes according to the Manual Ability Classification System. The quantitative changes in the pediatric evaluation of Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory, as well as the dynamics of individual points from the sections of self-care, mobility, social function capability, which were distinguished by the most significant changes, were highlighted. In particular, the analysis revealed the presence of significant changes in most items of the "self-service" section among all groups of children. A significantly better impact on the children of the main groups has a developed program in the eight items of the self-service section. According to the results of the Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life questionnaire, most domains have significantly improved. Really better results in the main groups are detected by the "Feelings of Function" domain.