THE EFFECTS OF EXERCISE THERAPY ON DYNAMIC BALANCE IMPROVEMENT IN CHILDREN WITH SPASTIC CEREBRAL PALSY

Ten children with spastic cerebral palsy aged between 8 and 15 and with mean weight and height of 30.8 kg±5.7kg and 1.35m±0/09m respectively, were treated with exercise therapy for 12 weeks. A stability platform system was used to measure the deviation of the point in the center of gravity (COG) from the center of base of support (COBOS). The balance tests were repeated on stable and unstable bases of support as well as without shoes. Results showed that the mean deviation of COG in CP children improves about 25% after the exercise therapy (p=0.001). The highest improvement occured in semis table and unstable bases of support and in AP direction. Conclusion: The mean deviation of COG in CP patients was significantly greater than normal children. It shows a deficit on the function of the proproceptive system in the children.
Exercise therapy improves the mean deviation of COG in dynamic standing. These results show the importance of the shoes on the treatment procedures in spastic CP children.