Effect of sensory integration on gait for children with mild hemiplegic cerebral palsy

Abstract

Background: Children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy exhibit increased muscular tonicity causing impaired postural control. Postural control is essential to maintain posture and balance during bipedal walking. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of the sensory integration on gait parameters among children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Methods: Thirty boys with hemiplegic cerebral palsy with ages ranged from 10 to 14 years participated in this study. They were randomly assigned into two groups. the control group (A) received a conventional physical therapy program while the experimental group (B) received the conventional physical therapy program and the addition of sensory integration. Both groups received treatment sessions five times per week for three successive months. Kinematic gait parameters were evaluated before and after three successive months of treatment. Results: The non-parametric analysis (Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test) of data revealed non-significant differences at baseline (between-groups). However, statically significant improvement (p < 0.5) was seen in both groups (within-group). Further, a statistically significant difference (between-group)(p < 0.5) was observed between post-treatment values of gait. Conclusion: Sensory integration along with a conventional physical therapy program for 3 months led to the statistically significant difference in the gait parameters among children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.