Biofeedback Training and Physical Therapy Program Improves Visual-motor Integration in Children With Cerebral Palsy

Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy

Treatments: Device: E-Link Upper Limb Exerciser; Other: physical therapy program; Combination Product: physical therapy program and E-Link Upper Limb Exerciser

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03626077

205-S-37

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study was to investigate potential benefits of adding augmented biofeedback training to standard therapy in improving visual motor integration (VMI) visual perception (VP) and motor coordination (MC) in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy .Participants were divided randomly into three equal groups. Group (A) received specially designed program of physical therapy intervention strategies to facilitate visual motor integration and visual perception over a period of three months. Group (B) received augmented biofeedback training only, and group (C) received augmented biofeedback training and same physical therapy program as group (A).

Full description

Children were assigned randomly into three groups of equal number (A, B and C). Children were selected randomly by collecting all names of children that matched the inclusion criteria of the study then upload the names and gender using an electronic program (SPSS) which divided the sample into three equal groups (A), (B) & (C).

Group A: this group included fifteen children with spastic hemiplegic CP. Children of this group received specially designed program of physical therapy exercises to facilitate eye-hand coordination and fine motor to improve VMI, VP and MC, which included: unbutton buttons, and button in all again; put the pellets in the bottle as fast as he/she can; place the shapes on its form board; build steps, wall, pyramid and a tower from cubes; cut out a line, square, triangle, and rectangular shapes on a paper by scissor; string squared cubes and lace the holes of strip. The tools used in training program were: button strip, lacing strip and its lace, mottle with screw- on cap, markers with different colors, beads and its lacing, square cubes, pellets, papers, blunt scissors, colored cubes, different types of form board and its shapes. Adjusted chair and table were used to accommodate differences in children's body built. Children were trained for 60 minutes per session, three times a week for three consecutive months.

Group B: this group included fifteen children with spastic hemiplegic CP. Children of this group received training using the E-Link Upper Limb Exerciser for 60 minutes per session, three times a week for three consecutive months.

Group C: this group included fifteen children with spastic hemiplegic CP. Children of this group received the same physical therapy program as conducted for group A, and training with E-Link Upper Limb Exerciser as conducted for group B. The training was for 60 minutes per session, three times a week for three consecutive months.

The participated children were assessed by Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test before and after the three months of the treatment program. The average time required for evaluating each child was 40 min. The assessment and training methods were applied according to the instructions provided in the test and equipment manuals, no modifications were necessary.

Enrollment: 45 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 5 to 8 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• grade of spasticity between 1 to 1+ according to Modified ashworth Scale, the ability to handle objects independently was between level (I) and (II) according to Manual Ability Classification System (MACS), no history of epilepsy; no botulinum toxin A treatment for the upper extremities in the previous 6 months, and able to understand and follow verbal commands and instructions

Exclusion criteria

• presence of visual or auditory impairments, significant tightness or fixed deformities in the upper limbs, severe spasticity, autism, or severe cognitive impairment

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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45 participants in 3 patient groups

group A

Active Comparator group

Description:

Group (A) physical therapy program for 60 minutes per session, three times a week for three consecutive months

Treatment:

Other: physical therapy program

group B

Active Comparator group

Description:

Group (B) E-Link Upper Limb Exerciser (augmented biofeedback training)for 60 minutes per session, three times a week for three consecutive months

Treatment:

Device: E-Link Upper Limb Exerciser

group C

Experimental group

Description:

group (C) physical therapy program and E-Link Upper Limb Exerciser

Treatment:

Combination Product: physical therapy program and E-Link Upper Limb Exerciser