Effects of Modified Constraint Induced Movement Therapy to Improve Lower Extremity Functions among Children with Infantile Hemiplegia

Abstract

Introduction: Infantile hemiplegia refers to brain damage that occurs before or during birth and results in hemiplegia. Juvenile hemiplegia is seen in injured patients older than 1 year. Hemiplegia is the physical manifestation of damage to a certain area of ​​the brain that controls motor activity. Hemiplegia can develop suddenly or develop over days, weeks or months. Some babies who appear normal as newborns may not develop symptoms of hemiplegia until voluntary hand use develops (around 4 to 5 months of age). Hemiplegia can also be short-lived or cause mortality and morbidity. Infections remain an important cause of neurodeficiency, at least in developing countries.

Objectives: To find out the effect of conventional occupational therapy to improve dexterity function in control group; To find out the effect of modified constraint induced movement therapy to improve lower extremity function in children with infantile hemiplegia; To compare the effect of conventional occupational therapy and modified constraint induced movement therapy between control group and experimental group.

Methods: The study design was done using a quasi-experimental design with a convenient sampling technique was used. Totally 30 students were selected and divided into two groups 15 students in the control group (A) and 15 students in the experimental group (B). Totally 36 sessions were conducted 3 session per week for 45 minutes). The participants were among the age group 6to 10. The sample were selected for the study from Premavasam, Possible rehab centre from mudichur , Kiddos rehab centre from Porur and Shalom therapy centre from Old Perungalathur. Total samples 30 subjects were selected under inclusion and exclusion criteria Before intervention, subjects were screened using GMFM Scale and modified Ashworth scale to get the pre-test values than divided equally in 15 samples in control group and 15 samples in experimental group. The experimental group underwent Modified Constraint Induced Movement Therapy.The therapy consists totally of 36 sessions, on a schedule of 3 sessions a week for 12 weeks. After the sessions the LEFS Scale was again administered to get the post-test values.

Results: The results showed that the comparison of pre and post-test mean GMFM scores of the experimental group were highly statistically significant, as compared to the control group because of the effect of modified constraint induced movement therapy to improve lower extremity functions. Since the p value of 0.001 is lesser than 0.05,.The GMFM measure scores of the pre and post test of the control group were significantly lower that was that of the experimental group after the implementation of modified constraint induced movement therapy for children with infantile hemiplegia.

Conclusions: The current study concludes that there was a significant improvement in the experimental