Effectiveness of simple and basic home-based exercise programs including pediatric massage executed by caregivers at their homes in the management of children with spastic cerebral palsy: A randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of simple and basic home-based exercise programs (HEPs), including pediatric massage (PM), executed by caregivers at their homes in the management of children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: Sixty-eight children with spastic CP (diplegia) aged 4-12 years were randomly assigned to PM and HEP groups for a randomized controlled trial continuing from November 01, 2021 to June 2022. Parents provided home-based exercises to both groups, five times a week for 12 weeks. However, the PM group was additionally provided with PM. Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88) and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) were used for evaluation of spasticity and gross motor activity at baseline as well as after six and 12 weeks of intervention. Comparative analysis of data was carried out with SPSS-20.

Results: Mean age in HEP and PM groups was 6.65±2.12 and 7.09±2.22 years respectively. Data revealed homogeneity of both groups at the beginning of study. The PM group showed a statistically significant decrease in MAS scores after six and 12 weeks of intervention (p < 0.05) when compared with the HEP group, but similar changes did not happen in GMFM scores and GMFCS levels. However, comparative analysis revealed statistically significant change in GMFM scores and GMFCS levels (p < 0.05) when compared from baseline to 12 weeks of intervention in both groups.

Conclusion: PM along with HEPs can be used effectively to reduce spasticity and to improve gross motor ability if performed for a period of at least six and 12 weeks respectively. In conjunction with HEPs, PM has better outcomes in the management of tone and movement disorders of spastic CP than HEPs alone.