Effects of a Core Stability Exercise Program on Balance and Coordination in Children with Cerebellar Ataxic Cerebral Palsy

Overview

Journal J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact

Specialties Neurology
Orthopedics
Physiology

Date 2022 Jun 1

PMID 35642697

Authors

Mohamed Ali Elshafey

Mohamed Samy Abdrabo

Ragab Kamal Elnaggar

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effects of a core stability exercise program on balance, coordination, and severity of ataxia in children with cerebellar ataxic cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: Forty children with cerebellar ataxic CP (mean age: 6.75±1.35 years) were randomly assigned to a control group and an intervention group for 2 months of follow-up. The control group received a standard physical therapy program three times weekly (1 h ), while the intervention group received a core stability program for 30 min, in addition to the selected physical therapy program. Both groups were evaluated pre-treatment and post-treatment using the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia, the Balance Error Scoring Systems scale, Bruininks-Oseretsky tests of motor proficiency, and HUMAC balance system scores.

Results: We found statistically significant reductions in the severity of ataxia, as well as improved balance and coordination in both groups, with stronger effects observed in the intervention group (<0.05).

Conclusion: The core stability program can improve balance and coordination in children with cerebellar ataxic CP when incorporated with a standard physical therapy program.

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