The Effectiveness of the Biofeedback Complex in the Treatment of Children with Cerebral Palsy: a Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. The consequences of perinatal lesions of the central nervous system (CNS) are one of the leading causes of childhood disability. Spasticity plays a leading role in the formation of motor disorders. An important aspect of the medical rehabilitation of children with perinatal CNS lesions, including premature infants, remains the minimal use of drug therapy, in this regard, the main task is to develop and scientifically substantiate new non-drug technologies for medical rehabilitation. AIM. To study the dynamics of motor activity of patients with cerebral palsy in the postoperative period using a robotic complex based on functional scales. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The main 1 group (n = 30) consisted of 20 boys and 10 girls, the control 2 group (n = 30) consisted of 17 boys and 13 girls. The patients received comprehensive rehabilitation treatment: robotic mechanotherapy procedures at the Lokomat complex, individual therapeutic gymnastics procedures, physiotherapy, massage, in addition, some patients received botulinum therapy for the lower extremities. In the main group, in addition to the standard rehabilitation program, classes were held at the DIEGO complex. The functional scales of muscle strength scale (MRC), Manual Ability Classification System (MACS), and the Ashworth scale were used to assess the effectiveness of treatment. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. On the scale of muscle strength, the proportion of patients with an increase of 1 point was 40 % among the patients of the main group, 3.3 % among the control group; on the Ashworth scale, with a decrease of 2 points — 20 % and 10 %, respectively. The volume of movements in the affected limb after a course of treatment using DIEGO complex training in the main group increased statistically significantly in the shoulder joint during extension (p = 0.0197), retraction (p = 0.0216) and reduction (p = 0.0232). CONCLUSION. The inclusion of additional classes on the DIEGO robotic complex in the treatment program for patients with cerebral palsy (GMFCS II–III art.) due to the positive dynamics of motor skills on the muscle strength and Ashworth scales allows us to recommend this method as an auxiliary for use in an individual rehabilitation program for such patients.

Keywords

• cerebral palsy
• biofeedback
• diego
• muscle strength scale
• mrc
• manual ability classification system
• macs
• ashworth scale
• gmfcs