Effectiveness of two different sensory-integration programmes for children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.
OBJECTIVE
This study was planned to investigate the effects of individual and group approaches to sensory-perceptual-motor (SPM) training on children with cerebral palsy.


METHODS
This study was carried out at the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation of Hacettepe University, Occupational Therapy Unit. Forty-one children who were diagnosed as having spastic diplegic cerebral palsy by the Department of Paediatric Neurology of Hacettepe University were assessed. Forty-one children with cerebral palsy were randomly divided into three groups. Individual and group SPM training were given to first group (IND) (n = 16) and second group (GRP) (n = 16) respectively. The third group was determined as a control group (n = 9) and only the home programme was given. All children were evaluated with Ayres Southern California Sensory Integration Test and Physical Ability Test before and after training. The SPM training programmes were applied for 1.5 hours, 3 days per week for 3 months.


RESULTS
Estimates of effect sizes were calculated for group, individual and control treatments. Results indicated that both group and individual treatments had a measurable effect that was consistently greater than that of controls.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that programmes of SPM training in individuals and group treatments affect children with cerebral palsy. It was concluded that SPM training in children with cerebral palsy will be applied to combined programmes and the relationship with individual and group treatments developed.
Bumin
G
G
Hacettepe University, School Of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Occupational Therapy Unit, Samanpazari, Ankara,Turkey. gbumin@hacettepe.edu.tr
Kayihan
H
H
D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010465:Perception; D004856:Postural Balance; D011187:Posture; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012677:Sensation; D014421:Turkey; D016138:Walking