Comparison of the efficacy of neurodevelopmental therapies in children with cerebral palsy.

<Bar-Haim S, Harries N, Belokopytov M, Frank A, Copeliovitch L, Kaplanski J, Lahat E. Source
Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel.

Abstract
This study compared the efficacy of Adeli Suit Therapy (AST) with Neuro-Developmental Therapy (NDT) in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Twenty-four children with CP, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels II to IV, were paired by age and functional status and randomly assigned to AST or <NDT treatment groups. In the AST group (n=12; eight males, four females; mean age 8.3 years [SD 2.0]), six children had spastic-ataxic diplegia, one triplegia, and five spastic-mixed quadriplegia. In the NDT group (n=12; nine males, three females; mean age 8.1 years [SD 2.2]), five children had spastic diplegia and seven had spastic-mixed quadriplegia. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks (2 hours daily, 5 days per week, 20 sessions). To compare the treatments, the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66) and the mechanical efficiency index (EIHB) during stair climbing were measured at baseline, immediately after one month of treatment, and 10 months after baseline. The small but significant time effects for GMFM-66 and EIHB noted after one month of intensive physical therapy in both courses were greater than expected from the natural maturation of children with CP at this age. Improvements in motor skills and their maintenance nine months after treatment did not differ significantly between the two modes of treatment. A post hoc analysis revealed a greater increase in EIHB after one month (p=0.16) and 10 months (p=0.004) in AST than in NDT, especially in children with higher motor function (GMFCS levels II and III). The results suggest that AST might improve mechanical efficiency without a corresponding improvement in motor skills, particularly in children with higher motor levels. The efficacy of Adeli Suit treatment in children with cerebral palsy. Turner AE. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2006 May; 48(5):324. PMID<: 16608538 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE] Ment Retard Dev Disabil