Effects of Standing Board on Antigravity Muscles in Children with Cerebral Palsy Aging between 3 to 10 Years; A Multi-Centered Randomized Control Trial

Abstract

Cerebral palsy is one of the most common conditions contributing to childhood motor disability. It is usually categorized by a diverse range of gait abnormalities making ambulation very challenging. Standing board/frame has been a widely used physical therapy intervention practiced globally. Objective: To evaluate the effect of a standing board on the antigravity muscles among cerebral palsy children aged between 3 to 10 years. Methods: A 6-months experimental study was conducted in Karachi, Pakistan on children suffering from cerebral palsy. They were assessed for weight-bearing status, alignment, and range of motion of the child’s hip and knee joints based on varying positions. Results: After 6 months of intervention, the ROM and muscle strength grading in groups X and Y remained unchanged. The mean duration of standing with support increased to 20.2 min and 19.3 min and without support to 9.5 min and 6.7 min, respectively. Conclusions: The use of a standing board amongst CP children with non-ambulatory status is much more apparent when used daily for at least 45 minutes. It is more effective in correspondence to the alignment of the hip and knee joints.