A.J. Dela Cruz1, B.M. Butad1, P.A. Rivera2, P.A. Samson2, J.L. Sulit3, E.J. Petil2, M.V. Francisco3, R.J. Javier2
1Manila Central University, Caloocan, Philippines, 2Manila Central University, CPT, Caloocan, Philippines, 3Manila Central University, CPT, Calocan, Philippines
Background: Cerebral Palsy is a non-progressive lesion or injury of the immature or developing brain that results to a disorder of movement and posture which causes difficulty in activities of daily living (ADL). Postural stability or balance is defined as the ability to maintain the center of mass within the base of support where gravity is the key vector. Maintaining standing postural balance is important for walking. Thus, Cerebral Palsy patients with impaired standing postural balance will experience difficulty in activities of daily living. Augmented reality offers virtual elements as an overlay to the real world. The study was conducted in National Children’s Hospital (NCH), since there are several cases of Cerebral Palsy, the researchers decided to administer their study to help children with SHCP who has balance impairment
Purpose: The primary purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of Augmented Reality (AR) with a balance board in an attempt to discover a new intervention that would address the balance problems of Spastic Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy(SHCP) patients.
Methods: The participants underwent an initial assessment to find out if they met the inclusion criteria using Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and Gross Motor Functional Classification Scale (GMFCS). A total of 20 participants, aged 5 to 12 years old, who are medically diagnosed with SHCP were equally divided into two groups. The experimental group was given balance board as the primary intervention for balance training, while the controlled group received Bobath technique. The researchers conducted a pre-test and post-test assessment using Modified Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) and Functional Reach Test (FRT). Both the PBS and FRT are useful measures of balance for children aged 5 to 15 years old with motor impairments and lower extremity spasticity.
The participants received 15 treatment sessions in 6 weeks and each session lasted for 30 minutes. T test and Pearson Chi square were used as the statistical tool for measuring the effectiveness of AR with balance board.
The participants received 15 treatment sessions in 6 weeks and each session lasted for 30 minutes. T test and Pearson Chi square were used as the statistical tool for measuring the effectiveness of AR with balance board.
Results: The results of this study show that there is no significant difference between the control group and the experimental group.Both interventions helped in improving the standing balance of SHCP patients and promote functional movements by doing functional activities on diagonal and spiral planes as both interventions inhibit the synergy patterns and reflexes. The significant value was set at p = 0.05, thus we accept the null hypothesis.
Conclusion(s): Based on the results of this study, both AR with balance board and Bobath Technique improved the static balance of SHCP patients after 15 treatment sessions in a span of 6 weeks. Therefore, AR with balance board is found to be an effective intervention in addressing the impaired standing balance of SHCP patients.
Implications: The utilization of AR with balance board can be suggested as an alternative physical therapy intervention to improve the static balance of children with SHCP. Moreover, it is fun and enjoyable since the patient can perceive the intervention such as he/she is just playing a game.
Funding, acknowledgements: No Funding
Keywords: Augmented Reality, Cerebral palsy, Balance board
Topic: Paediatrics: cerebral palsy
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: Manila Central University
Committee: Ethics Review Board
Ethics number: 2019-24
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
