Intensive play-based rehabilitation in young children with cerebral palsy is more effective at improving hand and leg motor skills than any other therapy currently available, according to the results of a European study.
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These results, published last week in the journal Jama Pediatrics, “must change not only the current rehabilitation techniques for children with cerebral palsy in early childhood, but also the guidelines for organizing rehabilitation,” argued on Monday Dr. Alain Chatelin, President of Cerebral Paralysis Foundation, in a press release.
According to this foundation, cerebral palsy is the most common cause of motor disabilities in children, affecting four births per day in France, i.e. 1,500 children per year. It causes motor and sensory disorders due to brain damage, which can occur with premature birth or with birth with an umbilical cord wrapped around the baby’s neck.
A research project “CAP” funded by the Cerebral Palsy Foundation with a budget of 1.5 million euros was intended to make it possible to measure the effects of intensive rehabilitation before primary school.
The aim was to measure the effect of two weeks of intensive and fun therapy in 50 children aged 1 to 4 years compared to 50 other children who did not follow it.
The principle of the method called HABIT-ILE is to intensely stimulate the child through entertaining activities that he must carry out independently in order to encourage his participation. For example: painting with a brush and then knowing how to grip the handle of the knife, stringing beads so that you can then attach the buttons to a vest…
According to the results of the study, this method “significantly” improves the toddler’s manual skills and gross motor skills.
“Within three months, children acquire on average 10% of their hand motor skills,” said Professor Yannick Bleyenheuft from the Belgian University of Leuven.
To date, most clinical studies evaluating the effectiveness of this rehabilitation have been carried out on children over the age of six, who generally suffer from unilateral cerebral palsy, emphasizes the foundation.
The results of this study show for the first time that “on the one hand it can be offered to preschool children and on the other hand it is effective,” she welcomes. However, we know that most brain growth and development occurs before the age of two and that brain plasticity is maximal at this age, the foundation emphasizes.