Home Versus Hospital Based Action Observation Therapy in Diaplegic Cerebral Palsy

Effects of Home Versus Hospital Based Action Observation Therapy on Balance, Mobility and Cognition in Diaplegic Cerebral Palsy

Effects of Home Versus Hospital Based Action Observation Therapy on Balance, Mobility and Cognition in Diaplegic Cerebral Palsy. It will be a RCT we want to identify the effects of action observation therapy on patients coming to the hospital as compared to the patients at home. We will also identify the retaining effects of AOT. Our sample size will be 40 diplegic patients having no cognitive issues and able to walk with assistive device. We will exclude the patient who will suffer with severe comorbidities and visual impairment. We will randomly assign the patients into two groups A and B.A will receive Action observation therapy three times a day along with stretching exercises .while group B we perform AOT and stretching exercises at home with same frequency.

In action observation therapy, patient will not come to hospital for treatment. He will see a video at home in which therapist will perform different activities then patient will also perform the same movements.

In action observation therapy, patient will come to hospital for treatment. He will see a video in which therapist will perform different activities then patient will also perform the same movements.

Exercises included will contain four stages of exercises. Each stage will be followed for 2 weeks i.e. stage 1 for 1st and 2nd week, second stage for 3rd and 4th week, third stage for 5th and 6th week and fourth stage for 7th and 8th week of treatment. Each component of every stage will be played for 1 minute in front of participants, followed by 1 minute rest and then these exercises will be performed for 5 minutes. All participants will perform AOT 3 times/week for up to 8 weeks along with functional training for the rest of the weeks. Functional training will include stretching and isometric exercises (stretching of hamstring and calf muscle while quads isometric). Assessment will be done by using the tools at baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention. A final reading will be taken after 12 weeks to check the maintenance of training effects.

Exercises included will contain four stages of exercises. Each stage will be followed for 2 weeks i.e. stage 1 for 1st and 2nd week, second stage for 3rd and 4th week, third stage for 5th and 6th week and fourth stage for 7th and 8th week of treatment. Each component of every stage will be played for 1 minute in front of participants, followed by 1 minute rest and then these exercises will be performed for 5 minutes. All participants will perform AOT 3 times/week for up to 8 weeks along with functional training for the rest of the weeks. Functional training will include stretching and isometric exercises (stretching of hamstring and calf muscle while quads isometric). Assessment will be done by using the tools at baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention. A final reading will be taken after 12 weeks to check the maintenance of training effects.

Changes from baseline,It is the valid and standard observational instrument to measure change in gross motor function in CP children. It consists of 66 items with 5 dimensions. These dimensions are the major motor functions i.e. supine/rolling, sitting, crawling/kneeling, standing and walking/running/jumping. Each task is rated according to the scoring guidelines i.e. higher score indicated better gross motor function. Each GMFM item is graded on 4-point scale i.e. 0 for unable to initiate the task, 1 for able to initiate the task, 2 for able to perform the task partially and 3 for able to perform the task completely. At the end these score summed up into total score.(21)

Changes from baseline, It is a modified form of Berg Balance Scale (BSS) which was developed for balance measurement in CP child. It can be performed without specialized equipment and can be easily administered. It including 14 items with 5-level grading to assess the functional activities that child must safely and independently form at home, community, activities including sitting balance, sit to stand/stand to sit, transfer, stepping, reaching forward, reaching to floor, turning and stepping on and off at elevated surface. Each activity is rated according to scale from 0 to 4 i.e. 0 for unable to perform and 4 for able to perform without difficulty.

Changes from Baseline ,It was used to measure the gait ability and speed. The acceleration area 2.5m and deceleration area 2.5m were marked on the ground as start and end point for the test. Participants were asked to walk for 15 minutes on comfortable flat floor at a comfortable speed and then record the walking speed through stopwatch over 10 m between these point. The mean value of the three trials was used and expressed as m/s

Changes from Baseline, it is a cognitive screening task and scoring system for 3 to 14 years old child. It represented 11 questions involving five basic cognitive abilities i.e. attention-concentration, orientation, registration, recall and language and constructive ability.(22) The possible score range is from 0 to 37, from which 17 or lower score indicating as moderate to severe cognitive impairment of children.

Inclusion Criteria: Participants falling in this category will be recruited into the study. Diagnosed Diaplegic CP Children between the age of 5 to 11 years. Without visual impairment and visual field defects. Able to follow the researcher's instruction. GMFCS (gross motor function classification system) level I-III. Exclusion Criteria: Participants failing to fall in this category will be excluded of the study. Children with a Modified Ashworth scale (MAS) of 3 or more Unable to walk Children with severe co-morbidities. (2)

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