Informatics Publishing Limited

Thangarasa Ponvel ¹, Sukumar Shanmugam ²

Affiliations
1 Neuro-Physiotherapist, Department of Physiotherapy, Manipal Hospital, Bangaluru, Karnataka, IN
2 Assistant Professor, College of Health Sciences, Gulf Medical, University, Ajman, AE

Abstract

Context: Stroke is one of the common upper motor neurological disorders with the overall worldwide prevalence of 3% . Majority of post-stroke individuals develop abnormal pelvic muscles function and pelvic tilt which can affect the trunk and lower limb functions. Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation less commonly used to treat the acute stroke population. Thus, we conducted this case study to evaluate the clinical usefulness of selective PNF on the pelvic pattern in two subjects with acute post-stroke hemiparesis. Both cases were treated with routine and selective PNF techniques such as rhythmic initiation, the dynamic and stabilizing reversal in anterior elevation and posterior depression pattern for 30 minutes, daily for 4 consecutive weeks. Trunk impairment scale and PALM device were used to assess the trunk balance and pelvic tilt respectively before and after 4 weeks of treatment. Both cases were improved with a clinically meaningful difference. Therefore we also precede this treatment protocol in our randomized clinical trial further.

Keywords

Hemiplegia, Pelvic Symmetry, Neuromuscular Facilitation, Diagonal Movement Pattern, Trunk Control.

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Nimmy A. ¹, Sukumar Shanmugam ², Shilna Rani P. ²

Affiliations
1 Post Graduate Student, College of Health Sciences, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, AE
2 Assistant professor, College of Health Sciences, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, AE

Abstract

Background: One of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder seen in children is Cerebral palsy and it is associated with lifelong disability. Impaired trunk control effects performances of daily life such as sitting, reaching and walking. It is evidenced from studies that pelvic asymmetry is common in children with CP. The PNF patterns of pelvis not only exercises the pelvic motion and stability, but also facilitates trunk motion and stability. Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of pelvic PNF techniques on trunk control in children with spastic diplegia. Method/Design: 36 diplegic children irrespective of gender, age group between 8-15 years were recruited for the study. The intervention group received pelvic PNF along with the conventional therapy for 4 weeks. The control group received conventional physiotherapy in form of truncal exercises for 4 weeks. The primary outcomes used were TCMS and PALM. Results: The results showed that there is an improvement in the TCMS score after the application of pelvic PNF techniques on children with spastic diplegia. Conclusion: Application of PNF along with conventional therapy helps in improving trunk control and reducing disability in children with spastic diplegia.

Keywords

Cerebral palsy, Pelvic asymmetry, PNF, Trunk impairment.

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