Therapeutic Efficacy of Attenuated High Voltage Healthron Device on Children with Cerebral Palsy
Abstract
Background: Exercise therapy in the form of passive mobilisation and functional training is the most common physiotherapy modality used in improving motor function and modulating spasticity in children with CP. However, modulating spasticity in CP patients remains a huge clinical challenge to physiotherapists and caregivers. The Healthtron device (HD) is an attenuated high voltage electrotherapy gadget claimed to have the ability of modulating spasticity and improving function in children with CP.Objective: To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of the HD in improving motor function and modulating spasticity in children with CP.
Methods: A randomised controlled study in which 24 children with CP of age 1.3 10.0 years having gross motor function classification score (GMFCS) III to V were put in either a Healthtron device (HD) or control (CON) group. The HD group had conventional physiotherapy and the HD treatment while the CON group had conventional physiotherapy alone. Participants in both groups had a total of 12 treatment sessions of 3 times a week for 4 weeks. Outcomes were assessed pre and post-intervention using the gross motor function measure-66 (GMFM-66) and modified asworth scale (MAS) to determine any therapeutic effects of the HD on participants.
Results: Significant improvement was noted in the GMFM-66 and the MAS in the HD and CON groups (p<0.05), except in the MAS measurement for the CON group (p=0.083). A significantly superior improvement was found in the HD group over the CON group for both outcome measures especially in the modulation of spasticity (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Attenuated high voltage current generated from the HD combined with conventional physiotherapy resulted in a significant improvement in gross motor function and reduction in spasticity in children with CP. The HD may serve as an adjunct electrotherapy device with other physiotherapy modalities in improving function and modulating spasticity in children with CP. We recommend that laboratory studies be carried out to fully understand the physiological and biochemical effects of the HD on the human body.
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