Review Article
Year: 2021 | Month: July-September | Volume: 6 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 135-140
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijshr.20210722
Effect of Spider Therapy on Motor Functions and Balance in Cerebral Palsy-An Evidence Based Study
Shital Bhimsingbhai Gamit1, Jayshree M. Sutaria2
1M.P.T. (Neuroscience)
2M.P.T. (Musculoskeletal), Lecturer, Government Spine Institute and Government Physiotherapy College, Civil Hospital, Asarwa, Ahmedabad
Corresponding Author: Shital Bhimsingbhai Gamit
ABSTRACT
Background: Cerebral palsy describes a group of disorders of development of movement and posture, causing activity limitation, that are attributed to non- progressive disturbances that occurred in developing fetal or infant brain. Spider therapy is an intensive treatment approach which was originally developed in Poland. It involves suspending the child in the Centre of universal exercise unit by using a number of elastic bungee cords of different elasticity. These cords are attached to specific points on special belt around the child’s waist, forming a unique spider web around the child which provides them essential support.
Purpose: The purpose is to study the scientific evidences regarding the effect of the spider therapy on motor functions and balance in cerebral palsy
Methodology: A search for relevant articles was carried out using key words- cerebral palsy, spider therapy, motor functions and balance and search engines-Google Scholar, PubMed, PEDro, Science Direct, Research Gate and CINAHL. Studies were selected from year 2005-2020. eleven studies were included in which there were 1 Meta-analysis, 2 Systematic reviews and 4 Randomized controlled trials,1Quasi- Experimental study, 1 case study, 1 interventional study and 1 retrospective study.
Results: 11 studies were reviewed from which 6 studies concluded that spider therapy is more effective than a control group receiving conventional treatment, 2 study highlighted MFR to be equally effective to alternative treatment and 3 studies concluded that spider therapy have significant but small effects on functioning at post-treatment and follow-up
Conclusion: Based on the analysis of these 11 articles, it can be concluded that spider therapy is an effective treatment regimen in cerebral palsy.
Clinical Implication: Spider therapy is found to be effective in improving balance and motor functions in s cerebral palsy, therefore spider therapy can be considered as an adjunctive treatment in cerebral palsy.
Keywords: cerebral palsy, spider therapy, motor functions and balance.