Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Growth and Developmental Disorder Pediatrics

Background : Improving balance in children with cerebral palsy has been a primary goal of physical therapy. Proprioceptive training exercises are a promising therapy aiming to improve balance in those children. Aim: The study intended to investigate the effect of intensive proprioceptive stimulation program in improving dynamic balance in children with spastic diplegia. Materials and methods: Twenty children with spastic diplegia from both genders participated in this study. Their age ranged from 5-8 years. They were selected from outpatient clinic, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University and from Prof. Dr/ kamal Shoukry{u2019}s pediatric rehabilitation center. They were classified randomly into two groups of equal numbers; control and study groups. Control group received a designed physical therapy program for one hour in addition to one hour of proprioceptive training, 3 days/week for 3 successive months. While the study group received the same designed physical therapy program as control group in addition to an intensive proprioceptive training for 3 hours, 5 days/week for 3 successive months. Modified Ashworth scale and gross motor function classification system-expanded and revised were used for sample selection. While dynamic balance was assessed by the Biodex balance system (Biodex medical system, Shirly, New York). Results: Both groups showed a statistically significant improvement of the stability indexes, but in favor of the study group. Conclusion: Intensive proprioceptive stimulation program in conjunction with a designed rehabilitation program significantly improve dynamic balance in children with spastic diplegia

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