| Control Group |
physical therapy program |
3 times/week for 2 successive months, one hour each session by the same physical therapist |
for 8 weeks of intervention |
The control group received the regular physical therapy program for rehabilitation of such patients which includes; 1) stretching exercise to maintain the length and elastic properties of the muscles which are liable to tightness especially achilles tendon, hamstring, hip flexor and adductor (for lower extremity) shoulder internal rotator, elbow and wrist flexor, pronator, ulnar deviator (for upper extremity), 2) strength training to hip flexor, knee extensor, ankle dorsiflexor, 3) Facilitation of postural reactions to improve postural mechanisms via variety of exercises applied on ball and balance board through tilting from different positions in forward, backward and sideways, 4) approximation as a proprioceptive training applied in a slow and rhythmic manner for upper limbs, lower limbs and trunk to control spasticity and stimulate the joint mechanoreceptors from semi reclined and quadruped positions, 5) facilitation of single limb support, 6) balance training from different positions, from quadruped position, kneeling, half kneeling and standing position on mat and tilting board, 7) facilitation of parachutes reactions by applying fast and large amplitude of the stimulus to train saving reactions from sitting on roll, also from standing position by pushing the child to enhance the child to take protective steps either forward, backward or sideways to regain balance , 8) gait training activities also will be important elements for balance training including training of walking on different floor surfaces (spongy and hard surfaces) on mat, on the floor and on the carpets. |
20 |
Active-Treatment of Control Group |
| Experimental Group |
physical therapy program and Whole Body Vibration |
The program duration of each position was 2 minutes first month and increased to be 3 minutes second month, rest period between each position was one minute in first month, half a minute in second month. The duration of the vibration exposure was 10 minutes.the treatment program 3 times/week for 2 successive months, one hour each session by the same physical therapist |
for 8 weeks of intervention |
The study group received the previously mentioned physical therapy program and Whole Body Vibration training session by using a WBV platform (Galileo Med L Plus model 2000, Novotech Medical GmbH, Germany). The WBV program composed of number of positions as the children stand in erect position, stand on one leg and stand facing hand rails on vibrating platform. This platform vibrates horizontally at frequency ranged from 10-25 Hz that increases gradually with amplitude 2 mm |
20 |
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