Effectiveness of Sensory Integration Therapy (Vestibular & Proprioception Input) on Gross Motor Functioning in Developmental Delayed and Spastic Diplegic CP Children

These clinical trials were aimed to study the effectiveness of specific vestibular and proprioceptive stimulation to improve gross motor function in cerebral palsy (CP) spastic diplegic children. Methodology: A sample of Twenty six cerebral palsy children was selected in this study. All children were evaluated with GMFM-88, QUEST and Modified Ashworth Scale before and after the intervention. The Sensory Integration Therapy (SIT) was applied for 50 min, 4 days per week for 48 sessions .The experimental SIT therapy was divided into 3 phases of 16 sessions each .i.e. proprioceptive phase, vestibular phase and mixed phase in which tactile stimulation is constant. The activities were selected to give proprioceptive input in phase one, vestibular input in phase two and mixed input of Proprioception and vestibular in phase three along with tactile input. Results: Results indicated marked improvement in gross motor functioning in the enrolled children with p=0.00. Modified Ashworth Scale also showed improvement with p=0.00.Occupational Therapist follows different strategies and approaches in the treatment of Cerebral Palsy. SIT techniques gives the child opportunity to experience not only its body in different positions but also in relation to its environment which they does not do due to their restricted body movements. Conclusion: This study shows beneficial effect of sensory integration therapy on cerebral palsy spastic diplegic and developmental delay children. SIT intervention had a significantly positive effect on gross motor function in the children with CP spastic diplegic.