Effect of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Functional Mobility in Children with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Ankle deformities are frequently seen in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and affect the functioning of children negatively. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of electrical stimulation on the range of motion and functional mobility of movements of tibialis anterior, peroneus longus and peroneus brevis muscles in children with hemiplegic spastic type CP. METHODS: A total of 40 hemiplegic spastic type CP children between 5 and 15 years of age were included in the study. Children are randomly divided into 2 groups. Neurodevelopmental therapy and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) was applied to the treatment group (n=20), only neurodevelopmental therapy was applied to the control group (n=20). A total 36 treatments were administered for 12 weeks, with 3 treatment sessions per week. After recording the age, body mass index, and gross motor function levels of the children, motor functional levels with the Gross Motor Function Scale (GMFM-88), ankle range of motion with goniometer, functional mobility skills with timed up and go test, timed stairs up and down test were evaluated. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS 22.0 program and significance was accepted as p < 0.05. RESULTS: The average age of the children participating in the study was 8.30 +/- 2.49 years. Comparisons between groups before and after treatment showed statistically significant improvement in range of active dorsi flexion, timed up and go test, and timed stairs up and down test in the treatment group (p=0.033, 0.015, 0.036). DISCUSSION and CONCLUSION: NMES therapy has been identified as a method that strengthens the weak muscles of children with hemiplegic CP, relaxes them by creating stretching effects on spastic muscles, and normalizes muscle imbalance, thereby increasing gross motor functions, walking ability, and functional ability.