Compare The Effectiveness of Dynamic Stretching with Conventional Stretching on Hamstring Flexibility in Patients with Spastic Cerebral Palsy of Aged Between 5-14 Year

Abstract

Background: Cerebral Palsy is a broad term incorporating permanent, non progressive, and irreversible locomotors and posture abnormalities. This non progressive disease that arose in the growing fetal brain leads to restriction of activities of daily living. Objectives: The objective of this study was to find out the effects of dynamic stretch on flexibility of the hamstring and compare it with conventional stretch in quadriplegic spastic cerebral palsy. Materials and Methods: The data was collected from children aged between 5-14 years from 3 settings. Written informed consent was obtained from the parents to allow their children to participate in the study. Two groups were formed; each group had 18 children. Both groups was getting 10 min moist heating by manual ice pack after that one group was performed dynamic stretching and other group was performed conventional stretching separately in the supervision of certified physiotherapist. Therapy was given for total 20 hours, 30 min a day, 5 times in a week for 8 weeks. These children were assessed by using Goniometer before (pretest) and after (posttest) performing the BOTH STRETCHING of hamstring for two months. The children were assessed for change in flexibility. Popliteal angle was measured by using Goniometer in non-weight bearing position. Results: The improvement of both groups was compared with independent sample t test. The improvement in popliteal angle in left leg was 9.44±5.87 in Group A and 6.33±2.59 in Group B. The improvement in right leg in Group A was 11.11±6.12 and in Group B was 5.28±1.93. Conclusion: Both treatment methods i.e. dynamic stretching and conventional stretching were found to be effective but dynamic stretching is more effective than conventional stretching in improving hamstring flexibility in Children with spastic cerebral palsy.