EARLY PHYSIOTHERAPY AD MODUM VOJTA OR BOBATH IN INFANTS WITH SUSPECTED NEUROMOTOR DISTURBANCE1

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Abstract
Children (30) with early signs of cerebral neuromotor disturbances according to Vojta criteria were followed until the age of 33 mo. to 6 yr. Twelve children were treated with early physiotherapy according to Bobath, 10 children were treated according to Vojta and 8 constituted a control group. Infants intended for early physical therapy were divided by random into 2 different groups. The neonatal risk factors were unevenly distributed among the infants in the Vojta- and the Bobath-treated groups, the latter being more heavily burdened in this respect. Vojta''s method of early physiotherapy is claimed to be able to prevent the development of cerebral palsy (CP) of uncomplicated (but not of complicated) type. At follow-up 1 child of 9 with uncomplicated CP was found in the Vojta group against 3 of 6 in the Bobath- and 2 of 6 in the control group. The differences are not statistically significant. Further detailed studies with greater groups of children seem necessary to help clarify these problems. Psychological aspects of early physiotherapy should be thoroughly considered and this is particularly important in connection with the Vojta method.