Effect of neuro-developmental therapy (NDT) on disability level of subjects with cerebral palsy receiving physiotherapy at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria

Abstract

Aim and Objective: Cerebral palsy (CP) describes a group of disorders causing activity limitation which is attributed to non-progressive disturbances that occur in the developing fetal or infant brain. The rehabilitation of children with CP has focused on increasing functionality in their daily activities. The objective of this study was to assess the disability levels of cerebral palsy patients receiving physiotherapy treatment at Physiotherapy department, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.
Methods: The study is a retrospective-repeated measures design, involving the use of Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and the medical records of the patients. The duration and frequency of treatment were obtained from the patients’ folders. They were initially assessed on the first visit and re-assessed after 3, 6 and ≥ 12 months of physiotherapy (Neuro-developmental therapy [NDT]) exercises using GMFCS. Simple percentage (%), Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were used in data analyses.
Results: The highest number of disability recovery cases are in the treatment frequency group of > 2 treatment per week 17(56.68%) and the first 3-6 months of treatment duration15 (50%) of NDTPhysiotherapy. However, Disability level reduces with longer (>12 months) treatment duration. Results also showed significant frequency and duration treatment effects on disability level following NDT-Physiotherapy at p< 0.05.
Conclusion: It was concluded that both duration and frequent of treatment were important factors in the management of CP using NDTPhysiotherapy.

Key words: Cerebral palsy, Disability, Gross Motor Function, Neuro-developmental therapy,