Influence of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Tone Modulation, Gross Manual Dexterity and Inspiratory Capacity of Spastic Hemiparetic Cerebral Palsied Children

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on modulation of muscle tone, the gross manual dexterity and inspiratory capacity in spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsied children. Forty children with spastic Hemiparetic cerebral palsy ranged in age from 4 to 7 years participated in the study. The sample was divided into two equal groups (control and study groups). The control group was treated by a specially designed physical therapy program. The study group received hyperbaric oxygen therapy in addition to the same designed physical therapy program. Evaluation was carried out for each child in both groups before intervention and after three months of intervention. The HIM ratio was measured by the use of the EMG apparatus, the gross manual dexterity of the affected upper extremity was measured by the use of the Box and Block Test and the inspiratory capacity was measured by incentive spirometer. The results revealed significant reduction of spasticity and improvement of the gross manual dexterity of the affected upper extremity and the inspiratory capacity for both study and control groups after the treatment (p