European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicine | 2021
Effect of oral sensorimotor stimulation on oropharyngeal dysphagia in children with spastic cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial.
Abstract
BACKGROUND\nChildren with cerebral palsy show various degrees of dysphagia causing late development of oral motor skills.\n\n\nAIM\nTo investigate effect of oral sensorimotor stimulation on oropharyngeal dysphagia in children with spastic quadriplegia.\n\n\nDESIGN\nThis was a double-masked, randomized controlled clinical trial.\n\n\nSETTING\nOut-patient Clinics of Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University and Modern University of Technology and information.\n\n\nPOPULATION\nA convenient sample of 71 children age ranged from 12 to 48 months diagnosed with spastic quadriplegia, were randomly assigned into two groups.\n\n\nMETHODS\nChildren in the control group received 90 minutes conventional physical therapy training five times/week for 4 successive months while those in the experimental group received 20 minutes of oral sensorimotor stimulation before the same program as in control group for 60 minutes. Oral motor function, body weight, segmental trunk control and gross motor function were assessed at base-line and after completing treatment.\n\n\nRESULTS\nIn total, 64 (experimental n=32, control n=32) children completed treatment and data collection. The baseline assessment showed non-significant difference regarding all measured variables while with-in group comparison showed significant improvement in the two groups. The post-treatment comparisons revealed significant difference the oral motor function and physical growth in favor of the experimental group (p < 0.05). Finally, there was non-significant difference regarding segmental trunk control and gross motor function (p > 0.05).\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nOral sensorimotor stimulation has the capability to improve feeding in children with spastic cerebral palsy diagnosed with oropharyngeal dysphagia.\n\n\nCLINICAL REHABILITAYION IMPACT\nOSMS has effect on some of the essential oral motor skills that contribute toward the improvement of feeding performance in children with spastic CP. The results of our study offer remarkable clinical importance for the children and their families.