Effect of Cage Therapy using Advanced Spider Suit Compared to Traditional Physical Therapy on Gross Motor Function in Children with Cerebral Palsy – An Indian Experience

Objectives: Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a condition where non progressive disorders of posture caused by abnormal development of, or damage to, motor control centers of brain resulting in abnormal movements. Improving gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy has been a major aim of physical therapist. The purpose of this study is to find out the Effect of Cage Therapy using Advanced Spider Suit Compared to Traditional Physical Therapy on Gross Motor Function in Children with Cerebral Palsy. Materials and Methods: A comparative study was conducted to find out the effect of Cage Therapy using Advanced Spider Suit Compared to Traditional Physical Therapy on Gross Motor Function in Children with Cerebral Palsy. 10 children with cerebral palsy were selected for this intervention. Age group between 4-8 years With GMFCS level III-IV were selected for this study. In 10 children we have 2 Hypotonic, 2 hemiplegic and 6 Spastic diplegic kids. These subjects were equally distributed in each group. Intervention: Therapy lasted for 8 weeks (5 days a week and 2hrs/day). Group A 5 subjects were subjected to Cage therapy using advanced spider suit. Group B – 5 subjects were subjected to traditional physical therapy. Gross Motor Function Measure was used to assess gross motor abilities of the subjects before and after intervention. Results: The result showed significant improvement with Cage therapy using advanced spider suit therapy than traditional physical therapy on Gross Motor Function Measure. Conclusions: The Cage Therapy using Advanced Spider Suit is more effective and beneficial therapy than Traditional Physical Therapy in improving Gross Motor Function in Children with Cerebral Palsy.