Two Months of Catching Up Walking Ability in 3-Year-Old Girl with Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy: Comprehensive Rehabilitation Program Involving the Family

Abstract

: A 3-year-old girl was presented to our clinic with a chief complaint of not being able to stand and walk unsupported. She was born prematurely on 31 weeks of gestation and was diagnosed with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP) at the age of two years. During supported standing, she still had noticeable equinus on both of her feet. We gave comprehensive rehabilitation consisted of a hospital-based and home program. Hospital-based management was done two times per week included dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) technique and conventional exercise such as stretching, strengthening, and postural control exercise. The home program was done three times per day consisted of DNS, swimming, cycling, standing in an inclined surface, squat to stand exercise and stretching exercise. After two months of a rehabilitation program, she was able to stand unaided and walk 2-3 steps independently. We also added botulinum toxin injection on her gastrocnemius muscle and hinged AFO prescription to improve her walking ability. Comprehensive rehabilitation program involving healthcare providers and family is an effective approach in catching up walking ability in a patient with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.