[Early complex rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy].

Abstract

The aim of a study was to evaluate health, psychological and social problems related to rehabilitation of cerebral palsy children (c.p. children). The study was based on 30 children c.p. who after diagnosis underwent systematic complex rehabilitation. Half of the children was under observation in outpatient clinics and their parents played the role of physiotherapeutists another half of the children apart from ambulatory kind of rehabilitation was hospitalized periodically in rehabilitation centres. Each half year all the children underwent control examinations of physical and motor development (including evaluation of postural and righting reflexes) as well as of psycho-motor development. Environmental conditions, parental attitudes towards examined children taking into consideration their evolution were also evaluated. The therapeutic team consisting of a paediatrician, neurologist, psychologist, physiotheraupeutist and psychiatrist took advantage of these examinations in psychotherapy of parents. Observation period of children was from 1:6 to 3 years. Age when rehabilitation was initiated was below 20 months of life. It was observed that result are influenced mainly by the degree of neurological disorders not by the conditions of rehabilitation. There are differences with regard to motor efficiency between rehabilitation at home and in rehabilitation center. Treatment at home has a better effect upon psychomotor development of children with more serious developmental disorders. Infections of upper respiratory tract are more rare in this group of children. There are two reasons why children in preschool age should be recommended for sanatorium treatment: medical indication e.g. operation and social indications.