Integrated Rehabilitation Approach for Small Children with Damage to the Central Nervous System

Introduction: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a condition determined by a damage occurred in the developing brain of children during the first year of life, resulting in cognitive alterations and motor disorders like spasticity. It is known in Literature the efficacy of integrated rehabilitative treatment for CP. The aim of this study, conducted in the Chair of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Univeristy “G. D’Annunzio” of Chieti - Pescara, was to demonstrate the importance of an early integrated rehabilitative treatment as affirmed in Literature for patients affected by CP. Materials and methods: 20 patients with CP were recruited, aged between 2 and 7 years old, of both sexes. Datas were collected at the beginning of the treatment (T0), at 3 months (T1), at 6 months (T2) using the Gross Motor Function Measure, the WeeFIM and the Barthel Index. Patients performed 3 weekly therapeutic sessions, each one lasting 1 hour, for a total of 6 months and 1 weekly session for the remaining 6 months. Each session consisted in a set of proprioceptive and stretching exercises. Conclusions: at time T2, patients showed an increase in their motor and cognitive abilities. These improvements resulted in a greater independence of patients from caregivers and in an overall better quality of life