EARLY PHYSIOTHERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF SPASTIC DIPLEGIA

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Abstract
The effect of early physiotherapy, using Vojta''s method, on children with spastic diplegia was reported. Eight children with spastic diplegia (in spite of early treatment which was started before 9 mo. of age) were compared with 21 children with spastic diplegia in which treatment was started between 9 mo. and 3 yr of age. The average age of starting to walk was 8 mo. earlier in the group treated early, although they had more severe complications. They tended to walk steadily with a gait pattern which was quite different from the classical pattern. All of the early treated patients had confirmed organic brain damage with abnormal CT scan or microcephaly. Vojta''s method of treatment is 1 system which improves the prognosis for walking if performed early.