Effects of Mirror Neurons Stimulation on Motor Skill Rehabilitation in Children With Cerebral Palsy

This study aimed to develop Video Compact Disc (VCD) program that applying the concept of imitative learning with mirror neurons stimulation on standard rehabilitation technique in children with cerebral palsy. The author will also examine effectiveness of the program by compare the motor function measured by the gross motor function measure (GMFM-66) between conventional physical therapy and the mirror neurons stimulation based VCD program for six months.

A randomized controlled trial was performed with thirty children with cerebral palsy recruited from Thammasat University Hospital and Rajanukul institute. Informed consent was obtained from the participants' parents before participation in this study. The participants were randomly assigned according to the randomization list to receive either the mirror neurons stimulation based VCD program and practice at home or conventional physical therapy for six months. The participants in the experiment group received the mirror neurons stimulation based VCD program and practice at home three times a day for six months. Concerning the control group, the participants received conventional physical therapy regularly at the hospital once a week for first two months and twice a month for last four months. Both experimental and control groups were measured their motor functions with gross motor function measure (GMFM-66).

Children With Spastic Diplegia, Between the Ages of 2 to 10 Years, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) Level I,II and III

Children with cerebral palsy, Gross Motor Function Measure, Imitative learning, Mirror neuron, Action observation, Conventional physical therapy

The children receive the mirror neurons stimulation based VCD program and practice at home three times a day for six months. The mirror neurons stimulation based VCD program that contained four volumes. The first volume includes activities activities for improving balance in sitting position. The second volume includes activities of sitting to standing. The third volume includes activities for improving balance in standing position. The last one includes activities of sideway walking. The running time of each volume is 30 minutes. The children had been practicing for two weeks per volume. Their parents were trained for practicing their children by VCD program at home and were asked to complete daily record of children's activities. The children were scheduled to meet a pediatric physical therapist once a week to monitor possible side effects.

The children receive manual physical therapy regularly at the hospital once a week for first two months and twice a month for last four months. The conventional physical therapy technique in this study derive from the manual technique including the Bobath concept, stretching exercise and functional training for 30-45 minutes at a time.

The children receive the mirror neurons stimulation based VCD program and practice at home three times a day for six months.

The children were randomly assigned to receive the conventional physical therapy for six months. Both experimental and control groups were measured their motor functions with GMFM-66 by an independent pediatric physical therapist who was blinded for treatment allocation at entry, the second month and the sixth month.

The mean total score of GMFM-66 of each group at entry, the second and the sixth month. The GMFM-66 contains five dimensions of motor measure including lying/rolling (4 items), sitting (15 items), crawling/kneeling (10 items), standing (13 items), and walking/running/jumping (24 items). The GMFM-66 are scored on a 4-point ordinal scale 0=does not initiate, 1=initiates < 10% of activity,2=partially completes 10% to < 100% of activity,3=completes activity). The scores were converted to a continuous scale by using the Winsteps Rasch Software.The GMFM-66 score is an interval-level measure of function where subjects are placed on an ability continuum ranging from 0 (low motor ability) to 100 (high motor ability). GMFM-66 score less than 30 that are considered low gross motor skills.

Inclusion Criteria: Children with cerebral palsy aged between 2-10 years old GMFCS level of one to three Able to verbal instruction Sitting are performed without assistance Standing and walking are performed with adult assistance No severe limitation of joint movement Exclusion Criteria: The children were received orthopedic intervention or botulinum toxin injection within 6 months Seizure Other conditions that prevent children from participate in research project Severe visual and hearing deficits