Effect of Functional Electrical Stimulation on Gross Motor Abilities in Children with Spastic Hemiparetic Cerebral Palsy

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of electrical stimulation over the gastrocnemius-soleus muscle on gross motor skills in hemiparetic cerebral palsied children. Subjects and Methods: Thirty patients with spactic hemiparetic cerebral palsy (age ranges from three to eight years) were equally divided into two groups; control group (A) and study group (B). Group (A) received a designed physical therapy program, while group (B) received the same designed treatment program in addition to electrical stimulation over the gastrocnemiussoleus muscle complex. The subjects were evaluated and scored functionally, using the Peabody Developmental Motor Scale and objectively, using an Biodex balance system device utilized to obtain the Antroposterior stability, Mediolateral stability index at different time intervals; pretreatment and three months later during which they underwent the treatment program. Results: the results revealed statistically significant improvement in the measuring variables of both groups when comparing their pre and post treatment mean values. Cabperson between the two groups' post-treatment variables, significant difference is revealed in favor of the study group (B). Conclusion: The obtained results strongly support the using of electrical stimulation of gastrocnemius-soleus muscle as an additional procedure to the treatment of hemiplegic cerebral palsied children.