title: Conventional physical therapy and physical therapy based on reflex stimulation showed similar results in children with myelomeningocele.
abstract: We aimed to investigate whether infants with myelomeningocele would improve their motor ability and functional independence after ten sessions of physical therapy and compare the outcomes of conventional physical therapy (CPT) to a physical therapy program based on reflex stimulation (RPT). Twelve children were allocated to CPT (n = 6, age 18.3 months) or RPT (n = 6, age 18.2 months). The RPT involved proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation. Children were assessed with the Gross Motor Function Measure and the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory before and after treatment. Mann-Whitney tests compared the improvement on the two scales of CPT versus RPT and the Wilcoxon test compared CPT to RPT (before vs. after treatment). Possible correlations between the two scales were tested with Spearman correlation coefficients. Both groups showed improvement on self-care and mobility domains of both scales. There were no differences between the groups, before, or after intervention. The CPT and RPT showed similar results after ten weeks of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Terapia Ocupacional e Fonoaudiologia, São Paulo SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Carolina Y P
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Aizawa
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Terapia Ocupacional e Fonoaudiologia, São Paulo SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Mariana P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Terapia Ocupacional e Fonoaudiologia, São Paulo SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lundberg
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Terapia Ocupacional e Fonoaudiologia, São Paulo SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Maria Clara D Soares de
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Terapia Ocupacional e Fonoaudiologia, São Paulo SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Fernando C G
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Terapia Ocupacional e Fonoaudiologia, São Paulo SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Mariana C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Voos
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Terapia Ocupacional e Fonoaudiologia, São Paulo SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Renata H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Hasue
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011897:Random Allocation; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012018:Reflex; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome