Objective To analyze how Pilates exercises affect standing, walking, and balance in children with diplegic cerebral palsy throughout a 10-week program.
Methods We included 40 children aged 7–9 years with diplegic cerebral palsy, and randomly allocated them into two groups of the same size: conventional therapy group (group A) and conventional therapy+Pilates group (group B). We administered the same conventional physical therapy program to both groups for 45 minutes, with group B receiving additional Pilates exercises for 45 minutes. Both groups attended the intervention program three times/week for 10 weeks. We used the Growth Motor Function Measure Scale (GMFM-88) to evaluate standing and walking (Dimensions D and E), and the Pediatric Balance Scale to evaluate balance function before and after treatment.
Results Comparison of the average values of all measured variables before and after therapy showed a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between the two groups. All measured variables showed a significant difference between groups A and B, in favor of group B (p<0.05).
Conclusion Pilates exercise in addition to conventional therapy is more effective in improving balance and gross motor function in children with diplegic cerebral palsy than the conventional therapy alone.
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Methods Fifty-two children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy ranging in age from 6 years to 8 years were enrolled in this study. They were randomly assigned to two (control and study) groups. The control group received the selected physiotherapy exercises, and the study group received the same selected physiotherapy exercise program and core stability exercises. Time motor performance, gross manual dexterity, and upper extremity skills assessed using the Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test, Box and Block Test, and Quality Upper Extremity Skill Test, respectively, were measured before and after 12 weeks of the treatment program.
Results There were significant improvements in both groups by comparing the mean values of all measured variables before and after treatment (p<0.05). There were significant differences between the control and study groups with respect to all measured variables when comparing the post-treatment outcomes (p<0.05).
Conclusion This study suggests that core stability exercises can be an effective intervention that may improve hand functions in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.
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