The carry-over effect of an aquatic-based intervention in children with cerebral palsy

African Journal of Disability

 
 
Field Value
 
Title The carry-over effect of an aquatic-based intervention in children with cerebral palsy
 
Creator Ballington, Samantha J. Naidoo, Rowena
 
Subject Health Sciences, Health promotion Cerebral palsy; aquatic; gross motor function measure; Halliwick
Description Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common motor disability in childhood. Children with CP are more likely to have lower levels of physical activity than their peers, which has negative implications for their health. However, aquatic exercise can be used to improve levels of fitness among children with CP.Objective: To determine the carry-over effect of an aquatic-based programme (postural control and balance) on land (walking, running and jumping) in children with CP, post aquatic intervention.Method: The study used a pretest-post-test, randomised group, cross-over design. Children aged 8–12 years (n = 10) were divided into intervention (n = 5) and control (n = 5) groups. The intervention group participated in two 30-min sessions a week, while the control group continued with normal activities. Pre- and post-intervention testing was conducted using gross motor function measurement. The 10-point programme of the Halliwick Concept was used.Results: Results demonstrated that the aquatic therapy had a significant effect on gross motor function scores. The aquatic programme-based group showed increased motor function following the intervention, compared to the control group (z = -2.803, p = 0.005). Furthermore, the aquatic-based therapy improved the average score for gross motor function measurement, post-intervention.Conclusion: Together with conventional modes of therapy, aquatic-based programmes should be integrated and considered as an essential, ongoing mode of treatment for children with CP, in order to ensure long-term gross motor function improvements.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor College of Health Science
Date 2018-10-29
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — Randomised groups, Crossover
Format text/html application/epub+zip application/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/ajod.v7i0.361
 
Source African Journal of Disability; Vol 7 (2018); 8 pages 2226-7220 2223-9170
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/361/907 https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/361/906 https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/361/908 https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/361/905
 
Coverage South Africa — —
Rights Copyright (c) 2018 Samantha J. Ballington, Rowena Naidoo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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