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Background and Aim: Muscle weakness can be a major problem for many young people with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP). Strength affects on gross motor function. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of loaded forward and lateral step up resistance exercises on Gross Motor Function in children with cerebral palsy of spastic diplegia.

Materials and Methods: Twenty CP persons between 5 to 12 years old (11 boys and 9 girls) with mean age of 8.15 years old were participated in this study. Loaded forward and lateral step up resistance exercises protocols were done 3 times a week for 6 weeks. Isometric strength of hip abductor, hip extensor, knee extensor and ankle plantar flexor were evaluated by MMT NICHOLAS apparatus. Gross Motor Function were evaluated by GMFM.

Result: The strength of Hip abductor, hip extensor, knee extensor and ankle plantar flexor increased (p < 0.05). The scores of GMFM dimensions D and E improved (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Loaded forward and lateral step up resistance exercises increased muscle strength of lower extremity and improved scores in GMFM. 

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Background and aim:   nowadays, comprehensive  developmental assessment of infants is highly considered. But, some assessments, especially those which use more manipulations on high risk infants, can cause more stress  on them. So sometimes it is necessary  to use one group of developmental assessments to predict another developmental aspect.  The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between scores of behavioral scale and  motor performance.
Materials and methods:   In this  cross-sectional study that was conducted in neonatal intensive care unit and pediatric clinic of Shahid  Akbarabadi hospital, Tehran, 50 under 2 months low birth weight infants after met inclusion criteria were selected via convinence sampling method.  The Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) and the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) was used  for assessing motor performance and behavioral performance respectively. The TIMP consist of elicited and observational parts. NBAS was consisted  of habituation, social interaction, motor system, state organization, state regulation, autonomic system,  smile, supplementary items, and reflex items.
Results:  There was not any significant relationship between habituation part  of NBAS  and TIMP and also between autonomus system part  of  NBAS  and observational part of  TIMP (P<0.05).  Association between other variables was statistically significant (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Some items of behavioral assessment  can be used to predict  the motor performance in low birth weight infants. 

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ckground and aim: Motor impairments, such as hemiparesis, incoordination and spasticity, are the most common deficits after stroke. Most patients show recovery in some of their lost motor function over time. Motor rehabilitation  are included mixed of combined movement therapy techniques in many occupational clinics. cerebral waves such as Theta wave can influence on patients function. There fore, the purpose of this study is to understand the influence of combined of occupational therapy and neurofeedback on motor recovery of stroke patients. 

Materials and methods :This study used a single-system (A-B) design. During the baseline phase patient's function of  upper and lowe limb were measured by Fugl-Meyer and Berg Test on three day intervals during 4 week and have occupational therapy every day. After this time, their treatment program began. In this phase they received combined of neurofeedback and occupational therapy for 4 week. Then results of evaluations of two phases were analysed. 

 Results: Both cases show significant recovery at upper limbs( case1 81.1% , case2 68.1%) and lower limbs( case1 73.1% , case2 75.4% ) in Fugel-Mayer test and Berg test( case1 51.6% , case2 68.1%).

Conclusion:Regarding the significant recovery of upper and lower limb function of patients, adding neurofeedback to routine occupational therapy  can be considered as a practical method in rehabilitation of stroke patients. However further research is needed.                                                         

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 Background and Aim : Cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability in childhood. Children with cerebral palsy require long-term therapy for achieving improved motor function. It seems to be a need for treatment and training at home. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of “handling training” for caregivers at home on the gross motor function of 15-72 months cerebral palsy children.

 

 Materials and Methods : In this experimental single-blinded study, 40 children with cerebral palsy (15-72 months old) were recruited from some of Tehran public or private rehabilitation clinics based on pre-determined inclusion criteria, and after matching for child age, type of clinic referred to (public or private), type of cerebral palsy, IQ score, GMFCS level and number of occupational treatment sessions already provided at the rehabilitation clinic. The children were allocated randomly into intervention and control groups. For data collection, a demographic information questionnaire, gross motor function measurement (GMFM66) test and gross motor function classification system (GMFCS) test were used. Data were collected on three occasions: before the intervention, 1.5 months and 3 months after intervention. For intervention, researchers went to the intervention group's homes and explained educations related to handling for caregivers in a 4-hours session. During 3 months, researchers would follow up to implement the intervention. Data were analyzed by one sample k-S, chi-square, independent sample t test, general linear model and analysis of Covariance.

 

 Results : There were significant differences in gross motor function of two groups in 1.5 months and 3 months after intervention than before intervention (p<0.001). There were significant difference in gross motor function improvement in pre-post (1.5 months after intervention) (p=0.006) and pre-follow (3 months after intervention) (p<0.001) between two groups and was greater in the intervention group.

 

 Conclusion : Handling training on caregivers in home improves gross motor function in 15-72 months old cerebral palsy children.

 

Keywords : Cerebra l palsy, Handling, Gross motor function

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  Abstract

  

Background and Aim: Cerebral palsy is a sensory and motor disease that affected control of posture and movement. Children with cerebral palsy show dysfunction in body such as spasticity, decreased muscle strength and selective control of movement that may limit functional activity and participation in daily life . The purpose of this study is to investigate effects of 8-Weeks progressive resistance training program on physical and motor status in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.

  

Materials and Methods: This study was semi-experimental with the interventional approachon16children of 4-12 years old with hemiplegic cerebral palsy in the first and second level of GMFCS classification that referred to rehabilitation center in Ilam city . Protocol of training was consisted of 16 one-hour sessions progressive resistance training in the case muscle group s ( 8 subjects) . Upper extremity muscles strength were measured by digita l dynamometer and gross motor function were evaluated by Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88) at before and after intervention.

  

Results: The strength of dominant hand muscle groups was improved significantly after the intervention , also the scores of stand ing, walking , running and jumping were increased (p<0.05). There was no significant effect in strength of involved hand.

  

Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that progressive resistance training improve gross motor function and increase isometric strength in the dominant hand

 

Keywords: Hemiplegic cerebral palsy, Physical status, Motor function, Progressive resistive excercises (PRE).