The Effect of Mechanical Vibration on Spasticity and Balance in Children With Cerebral Palsy

This is a randomized clinical study and 13 children, aged 4-17 with diagnosed spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy participated in the research. The collection of the sample and the recording of the data took place in Pediatric Physiotherapy Private Practice centers in Lamia, Trikala and Katerini. Sampling was completed after written consent of the children's parents, as long as they were fully informed about the purposes of the research, the private physical therapy centers and the Human Performance & Rehabilitation Laboratory of the University of Thessaly.

The time period that the clinical study intervention lasted was 8 weeks. The children who participated in the study were randomly divided through folders into an intervention group and a control group. The control group continued the physical therapy program they were already following, while the intervention group, in addition to the conventional physical therapy they received, did also resceive mechanical vibration. The program they were already following was based on the Bobath NDT Neuroevolutionary Method, where, through special manipulations, the emphasis is placed on improving the quality of movement and the functionality of the children, as well as the inclusion of the family in the wider treatment is considered important.

The inclusion of mechanical vibration in the children was carried out in parallel with the conventional physical therapy program they followed. The protocol with the appropriate exercises to be followed on the HyperVibe G10 mini vibration platform had a duration of 15 minutes, with a 2 minute break, the frequency of the mechanical vibration was 14Hz, the opening of the legs (amplitude) on the platform and the range of bending the knees depended on each participant and how safe they felt during the procedure. In front of them there was the possibility of supporting the upper limbs, for a possible loss of balance or if they felt insecure.